TAMPA, Fla. – Drivers in Tampa need to find a new route this week as a busy stretch of North Boulevard has officially gone dark to traffic. Starting at 9 a.m. today, February 9, city crews moved in to shut down the roadway between West 109th Avenue and Newport Circle.
The emergency closure is necessary to allow the Tampa Water Department to tackle repairs following a water main break in the area.
If you usually take this route to get through town, expect to see a sea of orange. The city has already deployed barricades and directional signage to help funnel cars around the construction zone, but delays are almost a certainty.
Local officials are urging everyone behind the wheel to slow down and stay alert, as work zones can be unpredictable and repair plans might shift once crews get a better look at the damage underground.
While the closure is a headache for Monday morning spirits, there is an end in sight—though it isn’t immediate. If the weather stays clear and the repairs go according to plan, the Water Department expects to have the lanes reopened and traffic patterns back to normal by 4 p.m. this coming Friday, February 13.
City workers are asking for a bit of grace from the public while they navigate the mud and pipes to get the water system back in tip-top shape. In the meantime, your best bet is to leave a few minutes early and keep a close eye on your GPS for the fastest detour.
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