HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Thousands of South Shore drivers will wake up to a different commute Tuesday morning as construction crews finalize a major shift in the traffic flow on Big Bend Road. Starting in the early hours of February 17, all travel lanes between Simmons Loop and the US 301 intersection will be moved to the north side of the existing roadway.
This maneuver is a logistical necessity for the ongoing expansion of one of the county’s busiest corridors. By pushing all vehicles onto the north side, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is carving out a protected work zone on the south side.
This “dead space” allows crews to operate heavy machinery and lay foundations without putting workers or passing motorists in immediate danger.
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For now, the road will maintain two lanes in each direction, though the narrow configuration and proximity to concrete barriers are expected to cause significant rubbernecking and slower speeds.
The project is part of a larger, long-term overhaul of Big Bend Road (CR 672). The end goal is to transform the current layout into a six-lane divided highway capable of handling the explosive residential growth in Riverview and Apollo Beach.
Perhaps more importantly for long-term maintenance, engineers are replacing the standard asphalt at the US 301 intersection with a reinforced concrete surface. While concrete is more time-consuming to install, it stands up much better to the constant “stop-and-go” pressure of heavy trucks and high-volume traffic that typically creates ruts and potholes in softer asphalt.
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Local officials are urging residents to pad their morning schedules with extra time or to seek alternative routes to the interstate.
Both Gibsonton Drive to the north and Simmons Loop are likely to see a spike in volume as drivers attempt to bypass the intersection. Transportation officials emphasize that while the detour may be frustrating, the speed limit through the work zone is strictly enforced for the safety of the ground crews.
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