TAMPA, Fla. – Drivers heading through Tampa today should brace for a few delays on their afternoon commute. The outside eastbound lane of East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard has been shut down between North 19th Street and North 20th Street.
The emergency closure went into effect so crews from the Tampa Water Department could perform maintenance on the local water distribution system. City workers have already set up barricades and directional signs to help guide drivers around the bottleneck, but traffic is expected to slow down during peak hours.
Local authorities are asking drivers to map out alternative routes if possible and to stay extra alert if they have to pass through the construction zone. Because of the fluid nature of utility repairs, city officials noted that “modifications to lane closures may be necessary during the course of the work.”
If everything goes according to plan, the road should reopen completely by the end of the workday. The city estimates that the work will be finished and normal traffic flow will return by 5:30 p.m. today. However, that timeline isn’t set in stone, as officials cautioned that “work schedules are contingent upon weather conditions.”
In the meantime, utility teams are working to get the job done as quickly as possible. Representatives shared that “the staff and crews of the Tampa Water Department appreciate everyone’s patience during this time.”
READ: Pinellas County Traffic Alert: Gridlock Warnings, Nightmare Closures Set For July 12-18
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