RIVERVIEW, Fla. – Commuters traveling along the US 301 corridor should prepare for a significant disruption starting just after the New Year.
Beginning early Monday morning, January 5, 2026, crews will close Symmes Road west of the US 301 intersection for a full three weeks. The 21-day closure is required for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to overhaul the roadway surface.
While US 301 itself will remain open to northbound and southbound traffic—and Symmes Road to the east remains unaffected—drivers looking to head west from the intersection will be completely blocked off.
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The Detour Plan
Officials are urging drivers to plan ahead, as the closure will likely increase congestion during peak hours. The official detour routes direct traffic to use Gibsonton Drive or Big Bend Road (CR 672) via US 41 to navigate around the work zone.
Electronic message boards and signs have been stationed in the area to guide confused motorists.
Why is this happening?
This isn’t a simple patch job. FDOT crews are ripping out the old asphalt to replace it with a more durable concrete surface designed to handle heavy traffic loads. The project also includes critical drainage improvements and updates to ramps and sidewalks to ensure they meet current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
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A Warning for Truckers
Commercial vehicles are specifically being warned to stick to the designated state road detours. Officials reminded truck drivers to avoid cutting through local residential streets to bypass the closure.
Weather permitting, the road is expected to reopen later in January once the concrete has cured and the intersection is safe for travel.
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