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Project Description

Financial Project # 258461
Project Length: 3.2 miles
Construction Cost: $18 million
Contractor: Granite Construction Company
Start Date: October 8, 1996
Completed: December 1999

About this Project
This segment, known as Segment 3, is completed. This project involved completely reconstructing Interstate 4 from 4 to 6 lanes in eastern Hillsborough County, part of a $350 million dollar corridor reconstruction effort stretching from 50th Street in Tampa to the Polk County line.

On this particular segment of the corridor, major improvements included replacing the overpass bridges at Bethlehem Road and Fritzke Road and improving drainage.

Overview of all the Hillsborough portion of the I-4 projects:
Safety and capacity improvements have been made to Interstate 4 in District 7 (Hillsborough County) of the Florida Department of Transportation from 50th Street in Tampa to just west of County Line Road. These five projects, which cover 21 miles of Interstate 4, increased capacity by adding one more lane in each direction of this major east-west road, and created a safer highway corridor by minimizing weaving conflicts and eliminating the former "roller coaster" effect. The "roller coaster" effect describes the steep interchange inclines where motorists quickly go up, then down, as intersecting roads are crossed. The rebuilt I-4 features more gradual grades to eliminate the "roller coaster" effect while increasing the distance that drivers can see the road ahead.

The first project began in September 1995, and the last project began in October 1997. All five projects that make up this stretch of corridor have been completed (from east of 50th Street to County Line Road). In Polk County, District 1 of the Florida Department of Transportation has also completed the reconstruction from County Line Road to west of Memorial Boulevard (2.9 miles, completed in May 1999).

Improvement highlights for the I-4 corridor include:

• Increased from a four-lane highway to a six-lane highway.
  
• Provided for accommodation of high-speed rail, other rail transit, and/or an additional 4 lanes in the future.
  
• Improved and modified interchange ramps.
  
• Reconstructed bridges and improved height clearances.
  
• Increased median width.
  
• Created safer clear zones and recovery zones.
  
• Improved lighting.
  
• Improved drainage.