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Local
Meeting Set To Discuss FDOT Changes
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Rumors circulating again about closing the 22nd St. exit ramp.
The East Tampa Community Re- vitalization Partnership (ETCRP) will have its monthly meeting on Tuesday (today), July 10, 2018 at 10 a. m. The meeting will be held at Ragan Park Auditorium, 1200 E. Lake Ave.
One of the items on the agenda is a rumor that the 22nd St. exit off I-4 will be closed. The Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) is on the agenda to make a presentation.
Evangeline R. (Van) Best is inviting the community to come out and hear what the FDOT has to offer.
Mrs. Chloe Coney, Public In- volvement specialist, Tampa Bay Next Program Consultant, says there is no truth to the closing on the exit ramp.
“We received several questions about the closure of streets access-
KIRK BOGEN
ing the East Tampa area. We have spoken to FDOT, and there are no current plans for street closures in the area. FDOT is evaluating four different options for improving the I-275 and I-4 interchange, and they are seeking public input about the options. FDOT will be presenting these options and providing infor- mation on access points in the East Tampa area at our next East Tampa
EVANGELINE R. BEST
Community Revitalization Partner- ship meeting,” she said.
“The main discussion however, is how to best alleviate the congestion and backup that builds from I-275 and I-4, exiting at 22nd St. south,” Mrs. Coney said.
Kirk Bogen, Environmental Engineer with FDOT, District 7, agreed. He said we’ll be offering modification. “The east/west ramps
CHLOE CONEY
will remain the same. We will just be making things better,” he said. There will be modifications at 14th and 15th Streets and Frontage Road to 21st and 22nd Streets.”
State Representative Sean Shaw was contacted early Monday, but had not heard anything about a street closure. However, he immedi- ately contacted FDOT to get back- ground info.
PAGE 4 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 10, 2018
