For those of us who live and work here, Tampa’s traffic troubles are no secret. Whether you live in the heart of the city or commute to one of the outlying suburbs each day, battling the various bottlenecks and backups that happen Monday-Friday (and even on the weekends) can get tiresome, and in many cases, dangerous. Fender benders, sideswipes, and hit-and-runs are a common problem in these types of traffic conditions, as drivers are much closer together than they should be, tensions are high, and, particularly during morning commutes, drivers are under a time-crunch to make it to the office. While much of Tampa suffers with traffic woes each day, there are particular spots that are well known by commuters for causing trouble and delaying travel. Knowing these can help you plan ahead for your daily commute, or could perhaps help you avoid the traffic altogether by brainstorming alternative routes to and from your destination.
Here are 5 of the most troublesome spots in Tampa for drivers:
- County Line Rd. (from Dale Mabry to U.S. 41) Due to development in and around this area, what should take only a matter of minutes to drive often takes 3 times that if not more. The piece of road is less than a mile long, but earned a spot on the list because it’s so notorious among daily drivers and is known to cause delays on a regular basis.
- Westshore Blvd., from Gandy Blvd. to Swann Ave. While this area isn’t too bad during off hours, if you hit the traffic here coming through during heavy commuter times (say, 7 AM or 5 PM) the driving time on this stretch doubles. If possible, time your drive to hit just before, or just after, the heaviest commuting portion of each day, or allow yourself extra time for your drive so you don’t end up late.
- I-275 from Dale Mabry to Armenia Ave. Again, driving time in this area can more than double during “hot” times during the day. Hit it at the right time and you can make it through in 2 minutes or less…but hit at the wrong time and you might be stuck for a while.
- Lithia Pinecrest Rd. (from Bloomingdale Ave. to Boyette Rd.) This simple 3-mile stretch can take as much as 14 minutes or more if you drive through during heavy traffic.
- Gunn Highway from Van Dyke Rd. and S Mobley Rd. Leaving even a half hour later than you need to can delay your time by 2 times or more on this road. If you time it just right though (around 6 AM) you can make it through in about 5 minutes!
Sessums Law Group is proud to live and work right here in Tampa, and we understand the traffic and the dangers of our local roads. That’s why we make it our mission to STAND FOR YOU when the unexpected comes your way. Vehicle accidents are traumatic, and often leave you and your family with life-altering circumstances, whether they are financial, physical, or emotional. We are here to help you get the compensation you need and deserve to move forward with life.
Stay alert and be prepared as you head out on your commute this week!