HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A major road project starts this weekend that is expected to cause added traffic delays in Riverview.
Gibsonton Drive will be closed in both directions just west of U.S. 301 for 21 days.
In addition, U.S. 301 will be reduced to two lanes in each direction at the intersection of Gibsonton Dr.
This all starts at midnight on Friday into Saturday.
But it’s Monday morning that Florida Deptartment of Transportation officials say drivers will start to see the biggest traffic impact.
“We know it’s going to be challenging for motorists. We just want to make sure they’re aware of it, check their map times, leave early and please watch out for construction workers,” said FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson.
The closure is for the first phase of a project to replace asphalt in the area with more durable concrete.
That’s due to the high amount of traffic in a busy area.
“This is a truck route. There’s a lot of cars that go through here. It’s going to last a lot longer than asphalt normally would,” Carson said.
Drivers will be detoured using Riverview Drive, U.S. 41 and Symmes Road.
The interstate ramps at I-75 and Gibsonton Drive will remain open. However, FDOT recommends that drivers use Big Bend Road and U.S. 301 instead.
FDOT officials say access to businesses will remain open.
Once this work is done, crews will do the same work on east side of U.S. 301 along Boyette Road at a later date.
