Residents Review Proposal To Reduce Lanes On Natures Way

BY JOE HARLESS/BLOOMINGDALE GAZETTE

VALRICO, FL — Hillsborough County hosted a public information meeting Monday, Sept. 30, at the Bloomingdale High School cafeteria to gather input regarding the proposed improvements for the section of Natures Way between Elba Place and Bell Grande Drive.

About 25 people attended the meeting and according to one attendee the general mood was subdued.

The planned improvements call for the conversion of the existing four-lane roadway into a two-lane roadway with a median and center left-turn lane, along with a bicycle lane in each direction. Additionally, the project includes upgrading school zones for Alafia and Cimino elementary schools and installing upgraded signage and pavement markings on nearby sections of Natures Way, Culbreath Road, Glenhaven Drive, Greenhollow Lane and Springvale Drive.

In addition to the roadway changes in Bloomingdale East, the plan also hopes to improve safety and accessibility for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Sandra Gonzalez, one of the members of Capital Programs with Hillsborough County, said the project will be out of the design phase by the end of the year and the actual work is expected to begin by June 2020.

“The plan is currently in the design phase,” Gonzalez said at the meeting. “We intend to review citizen input for any particular improvements that might be suggested from citizen feedback.”

Similar to the public meeting held last year to showcase the planned changes to Bells Shoals Road, the attending citizens got the chance to review the project details, ask questions of the experts, and make comments on the project. The open-house format of the meeting stressed the importance of making the information on the changes available to the public.

Meeting attendance won’t prohibit citizens from making comments on the project, either. Gonzalez stated anyone interested in viewing the project and making comments can do so online.Additional project information is also available online. Questions about the meeting may be directed to Citizen Engagement at (813) 272-5275.