Residents Have Concerns About Proposed I-275 Improvements

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL -- Seminole Heights and Tampa Heights residents will have a chance to review and comment on proposed improvements to Interstate 275 at a public hearing on Tuesday, March 26, at 5:30 p.m. at Seminole Heights United Methodist Church, 6111 N. Central Ave.

The Florida Department of Transportation is proposing improvements from Interstate 4 north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to north of Bearss Avenue.

Local community organizations have concerns about the proposal.

"The preferred alternative being advanced by FDOT is a road widening/added capacity project," said Tampa Heights Civic Center transit chairman Rick Fernandez. "It will add cars, increase all modes of pollution (air, noise, water, etc.), negatively impact health outcomes in the burdened communities, aggravate already unsafe traffic conditions..."

The hearing will give residents an opportunity to review proposed improvements, express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

An open house will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Project materials including maps, typical section boards and project documents will be available for review and FDOT representatives will be available prior to and following the formal portion of the hearing.

For more information, visit the project website or contact project manager Ashley Henzel at 813-975-6433 or ashley.henzel@dot.state.fl.us.