Heavy Traffic Warning for North Valrico, Greater Brandon Through March 11

Sabrina Deltoro has a word for it: “Nightmare.”

And she’s most likely not alone, not with a series of road closings affecting five roadways in the Greater Brandon community and, by detour association, the heavily traveled Parsons Avenue.

The closings are for the replacement of railroad tracks in north Valrico, just south of Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard. 

At issue are five roads: Lakewood Drive; Highview, Kingsway and Valrico roads; and Lenna Avenue. All five roads, between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Wheeler Road, will be closed for the replacement of CSX railroad tracks.

The Lenna Avenue section will be closed through March 4 at 4 p.m.

All other road sections will be closed through March 11 at 4 p.m.

A report from the Hillsborough County Public Works Department further notes that the closed sections of the five roads will remain open to people who live in the area, up to the railroad track crossings. 

“I’m ready to move,” Deltoro said, about her initial reaction to the road closings, which she had not realized would be happening until leaving for work herself March 1 and hearing from her husband, who was trying to get their daughter to Burnett Middle School on time.

“I would have left earlier if I knew what was going on,” Deltoro said. “All of my roads are being shut down. I need my roads!”

The recommended detour is the already heavily traveled Parsons Avenue, which means it would be wise to avoid the area if at all possible, the county announcement states.

As noted: “Drivers should expect delays in the area and consider avoiding the area or adjusting their travel schedules to non-peak times."