Gandy Freeway

The Gandy Freeway is a limited access freeway that is currently under construction in Pinellas County, Florida. The freeway portion will run from just east of 4th St to just west of the I-275 interchange. Construction of the freeway began in February 2014 and is slated to be completed in late 2017. All new elevated lanes are open as of August, 2017, with work continuing through the end of the year along the frontage roads.

History

Originally conceived as a limited access link from South Tampa to Indian Shores during the 1960s and 70s; much of the Gandy Freeway was either shelved or out right cancelled. Sections east of US 19 and west of the Gandy Bridge were put on hold indefinitely due to lack of funds, while sections west of US 19 were cancelled. If fully built, the freeway would have provided a faster, signal-free drive between Tampa and the Gulf Beaches.

Original aspirations

The Gandy Freeway has been in planning books for decades, with a roughly 12.6 miles (20.3 km) stretch between a proposed connection to the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway in Tampa, and US 19 (or somewhere westward). Due to the low likelihood of the Hillsborough County portion being constructed, and increasing urbanization of Pinellas Park, the freeway was ultimately shelved (with portions west of US 19 being cancelled). Remains of the original freeway can be seen in the Gandy Blvd interchange at I-275 (which lacks several ramps that were originally planned to be built), the separated grade diamond interchange at US 19 with Gandy Blvd as limited access, and the very wide right-of-way preserved along Gandy Blvd east of I-275.

Section between I-275 and 4th St

After being shelved for decades, largely due to a lack of funding, the Gandy Freeway section from just east of 4th St N to the I-275 interchange is finally being built at a cost of $83 million. This project comprises a four to six-lane elevated highway, with overpasses at 4th St N/Roosevelt Blvd, 9th St N (also known as MLK St N), and 94th Ave N. A four lane frontage road system (two lanes in each direction) will parallel the elevated structures.[1] In recent years, the Florida Department of Transportation has seen this particular project as an increasing priority for relieving congestion along the corridor, which is why the project was fast-tracked for construction in recent years.[2]

On December 14, 2016, the new eastbound elevated lanes opened over 94th Ave N, with the westbound direction opening on February 12, 2017. The new westbound elevated lanes over MLK St N, Roosevelt Blvd, and 4th St N opened on June 18, 2017, with the eastbound direction opening on June 23, 2017.

I-275 interchange

The Gandy Blvd interchange with I-275 is technically incomplete, lacking a free-flowing flyover from northbound I-275 to westbound Gandy. Originally, the interchange was also without a ramp from eastbound Gandy to southbound I-275 (this ramp was constructed in 1981). It is currently unclear if a free-flowing ramp will be constructed from northbound I-275 to westbound Gandy and there is speculation that this component of the project has been rolled into the controversial toll lane project formerly known as Tampa Bay Express.

Section between US 19 and I-275

Plans were also in the works to build an overpass at the intersection of Gandy Blvd and Grand Ave, but those plans were cancelled due to community opposition.[3]

January 2015 Tanker Incident

On Tuesday, January 6, 2015, a fuel tanker traveling westbound on Gandy Blvd collided with a utility truck traveling southbound on Roosevelt Blvd. Fuel from the tanker leaked and ignited, causing a huge fireball of flames to erupt. Fire crews from multiple departments; including Pinellas Park, Largo, Seminole, St. Petersburg and the St. Petersburg-Cleawater International Airport, responded to the incident, and it took well over an hour for the fire to be extinguished. Both drivers were transported to area hospitals; with the driver of the tanker truck suffering second and third-degree burns throughout most of his body. The driver of the utility truck suffered lacerations and fractures.

The severity of the incident has caused environmental concerns, as fuel seeped about four feet into the ground around and beneath the damaged roadway. Flames from the fire also charred the retaining wall that now carries westbound traffic over 4th St and Roosevelt Blvd. The Florida Department of Transportation evaluated the condition of the wall and determined that the affected section would need to be partially rebuilt. The work was able to be completed without significantly delaying the overall project.[4][5][6]

Exit list

LocationMiKmDestinationsNotes
Pinellas ParkN/AN/A US 19 south (SR 55) – St. Petersburg, ClearwaterOriginal Gandy Freeway interchange
Pinellas ParkN/AN/AGrand AveCurrently an at-grade, signaled intersection. Plans to elevate this intersection is either on indefinite hold or canceled outright due to community opposition.
St. PetersburgN/AN/A I-275 (SR 93) – St. Petersburg, Tampa, Tampa International AirportNo westbound access to northbound I-275. Off-ramp from northbound I-275 is currently an at-grade, signaled intersection.
St. PetersburgN/AN/A16th St N via 94th Ave NEastbound exit and westbound entrance.
St. PetersburgN/AN/AMartin Luther King, Jr. Street (CR 803 south), SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) – Largo, SR 687 (4th Street North) / US 92Westbound access to 16th St N is available via the westbound frontage road.

References

  1. ↑ Censullo, Meredyth (February 20, 2014). "Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg Will Be Reconstructed as Elevated, Six-Lane Roadway: $83 Million Project to Reconstruct Gandy Begins". Tampa, FL: WFTS-TV. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  2. ↑ Bursch, Kathryn (March 2, 2012). "Major Changes Planned for Gandy Boulevard in St. Petersburg". St. Petersburg, FL: WTSP-TV. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  3. ↑ Lindberg, Anne (June 21, 2013). "Elevating Gandy Boulevard near the Wawa Draws Anger". Tampa Bay Times. St. Petersburg, FL. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  4. ↑ O'Reilly, Sean (January 8, 2015). "RAW VIDEO: Tanker driver seriously burned in fuel leak fire accident in St. Petersburg".
  5. ↑ "Driver burned in Gandy Blvd. crash, tanker explosion".
  6. ↑ "Tanker crash could delay Gandy construction; driver remains critical".
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