Community Corner

Gornto Lake Road: Construction at Twilight, Progress in View

Photos taken Sunday, April 28, give testament to the upcoming completion of the Gornto Lake Road expansion, set to open in the fall. How necessary is this connecting roadway?

 

Photographs snapped Sunday April 28, give testament to the ongoing work on the Gornton Lake Road expansion, connecting Brandon Town Center and Brandon boulevards.

When the dust is cleared on the Gornto Lake Road extension, motorists will have a straight shot from Brandon Boulevard (State Road 60) to Lumsden Road, then on to Bloomingdale Avenue using the existing roadway section.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A sign posted recently near the work notes a fall 2013 opening for the  connecting roadway.

______________

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Tampa Tribune reported in January that the Gornto Lake Road extension is key to easing Brandon mall traffic. Do you agree?
______________

At a cost of $3.95-million, Hillsborough County officials have bought 0.738 miles of a four-lane divided roadway with turn lanes, "from south of Brandon Boulevard to approximatley 800 feet south of [Brandon] Town Center Bouleveard."

Construction started in October and was expected to take "365 calendar days."

The existing Gornto Lake Road consists of a mixture of commercial and residential uses. The extension through wetlands was deemed necessary because of the increase of such uses, as noted in the county report:

"Due to the increase of residential and commercial development into the Brandon area, there was a need for an additional north-south corridor between State Road 60 and Lumsden Road. Constructing the Gornto Lake Road extension (from south of Brandon Boulevard (State Road 60) to approximately 800 feet of the Brandon Town Center) would improve traffic flow in the area and help relieve congestion at the interstate access and the shopping mall."

Noted in the project description above was reference to the "Brandon Town Center," which was the original name of the shopping mall until it was acquired by Westfield Brandon. 

______________

What are your views of the Gornto Lake Road extension? Have you been waiting for years to use it? Was it necessary to improve your quaility of life in the Greater Brandon area? Do you have any concerns? Let us know in the comment box below. 

______________

   


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here