Leaders in Congress tentatively approve funding for an extension of Roosevelt Boulevard, which would relieve Ulmerton Road congestion.
By JEAN HELLER
Published November 27, 2003
CLEARWATER - Mid-Pinellas County took another step closer this week to a signal-free route around one of its most notorious traffic bottlenecks.
When the congressional leadership tentatively approved a $373-billion spending bill on Tuesday, it included $7-million to help extend Roosevelt Boulevard south of Ulmerton Road. Roosevelt would eventually link up with Interstate 275 on new lanes in the median of what is now 118th Avenue N.
The extension would provide a way around the infamous Miracle Mile, that congestion-clogged stretch of Ulmerton Road from 49th to 34th streets N, one of the main routes from northern and western Pinellas County to the interstate.
"The money would help buy the right of way for the new road, including the Sunshine Speedway property," said Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Transportation. The property lies south of Ulmerton between 44th and 46th streets N.
About 40 percent of the Speedway property would be needed for the new road. The rest of the track property is expected to be used by St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, which is north of Ulmerton.
The new federal spending bill likely will be approved by the full House and Senate next month, or possibly January, and then must be signed by President Bush.
The $7-million for the Roosevelt extension was arranged by Rep. C.W. Bill Young, the Largo Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee.
The previous spending bill carried $10-million for the project.
Pinellas County commissioners said at the time they would need another $10-million to complete the purchase of the Speedway property, but commission Chairwoman Karen Seel said Wednesday she was thrilled with what they got.
"This will help us to acquire the property and start to build the missing traffic link," Seel said. "It's really a critical project for Pinellas County. And if it's not enough money to get it done, then we'll have to look at county or state funds to make up the difference."
Eventually the extension, which would start where Roosevelt splits east and west and merges with Ulmerton south of St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, would be a piece of a much more ambitious project.
FDOT's long-range plan is to double-tier Roosevelt from Ulmerton to the south end of the Bayside Bridge and to completely redesign the Roosevelt interchange at the bridge.
The results would provide a signal-free route from State Road 60 to Orlando. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the decade.
