Public Information Meeting Set Wednesday On Bell Shoals Widening

VALRICO, FL — Hillsborough County is hosting a public information meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, to discuss the construction of the proposed widening of Bell Shoals Road from Boyette Road to Bloomingdale Avenue.

The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Bloomingdale High School cafeteria, 1700 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.

The proposed changes include widening the two-lane undivided rural road to a four-lane divided urban roadway.

Proposed improvements include a bike lane and sidewalk in each direction of the 3.1-mile stretch of Bell Shoals and a new traffic signal at Starwood Avenue. Signals at Glenhaven Drive, Rosemead Lane and Bloomingdale Avenue are proposed to be upgraded. The Bell Shoals bridge over the Alafia River also will be widened.

A majority of the private utilities along the corridor already have been relocated.

Attendees can review and ask questions on the upcoming construction for the $65 million Capital Improvement Project.

There will be maps showing the impact of the widening project on the entrances to Indian Hills, Parkland Estates, Oakdale Reserve, South Oak, Emerald Creek, River Woods, River Rapids, The Shoals, Bloomingdale East and Bloomingdale West.

The meeting will have an open-house format, with project displays available for viewing.