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U.S. 19 Traffic Flow Problems Studied

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 11, 2009

HUDSON - Traffic flow problems along U.S. 19 near the Hudson Wal-Mart Supercenter concerned county officials and residents who attended a conference today.

More than 20 people representing Leisure Beach, Country Club Estates and Beacon Woods listened to County Commission Chairman Jack Mariano outline problems. Drivers on side streets such as Dipaola Drive, which is north of the Wal-Mart site, have difficulty trying to turn onto U.S. 19 along this section of the six-lane highway north of S.R. 52.

Pasco County leaders suggested a traffic signal at Tower Drive as one option. Officials from the District 7 office of Florida Department of Transportation, however, said traffic counts and crash reports don't justify installing a signal in the vicinity.

A signal at U.S. 19 and Tower Drive would be fairly close to the existing traffic signal at Beacon Woods Drive.

Complicating matters is the planned rebuilding of median strips along U.S. 19 in the area. The work of reconfiguring the medians with directional turn lanes could start as soon as 2010.

This median "channelization" could make it even harder for drivers to make left turns.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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