Be careful re the 331 road construction

Beach Fanatic

Jun 23, '09 · 9:42 PM2,830

We are supposed to be treated to a "New Traffic Pattern" tomorrow, June 24. Hearsay has it that we will be switched to the two new lanes while work begins on the old lanes. As of this afternoon, it didn't look like they were anywhere near being ready to do that, but who knows.

I've also heard from several sources that SoWal folks who need to go to the library, courthouse annex, SWHS, etc might be well served by taking JD Miller Rd and coming in the back way. I was also told to suggest that folks who need to come south/north across the bay should utilize Chat Holley to JD Miller Rd to 98, but I worry about that as Chat Holley/331 is dangerous as it is.

Maybe all will be smooth. But leave early and be prepared in case it isn't. :wave:

Replies

SoWal Expert

Jun 23, '09 · 10:11 PM#2

Thank you! I wondered what "new traffic pattern" meant but forgot to ask!

Beach FanaticAuthor

Jun 24, '09 · 8:15 AM#3

Update

Now the signs say 6/25/09 (tomorrow). And it looks like a LOT of work has happened between last night and this morning.

SoWal Expert

Jun 24, '09 · 9:00 AM#4

They are working hard on getting it ready. It has changed greatly in the last 30days.

SoWal Expert

Jun 24, '09 · 5:13 PM#5

update:
on the afternoon of 6/24/09, there was a Sheriff's Deputy car and a State Law Enforcement car, both with lights flashing, along with a Fire Rescue truck, parked near the south end of the 331 causeway. Seeing no accident, I can only guess that they are taking extra precaution in warning people to slow down.

Looks like the top coat of asphalt is being paved, and the striping trucks are at the south end of Hwy 98, waiting to paint the lines on the road.

Beach FanaticAuthor

Jun 25, '09 · 8:26 AM#6

PSA for Today

now the signs say 6/26/09

SoWal Expert

Jun 25, '09 · 9:00 AM#7

The two striping trucks disappeared and no stripes have been painted.

Beach Fanatic

Jun 25, '09 · 3:35 PM#8

Does anyone know what the final lane pattern, when it's all done, will be at the entrance to the high school? There have been many mornings in the last year that I wished there was a light there. Turning into the entrance from the northbound lane can be challenging with all the southbound traffic in the morning. Is there any hope for a light now that there will be 2 lanes to cross? I'm assuming that there will be a way to cross the southbound lanes to get into the school.

Beach Lover

Jun 26, '09 · 7:54 AM#9

I noticed that ZERO planning was given to possible hurricane evacuation traffic patterns. It seems obvious to me that traffic will back up to a bumper-to-bumper crawl going North between US 98 and the bridge and beyond during evacuations. Based on the stripping that I saw yesterday afternoon there will be two North bound lanes with 6" - 8" curbing along both sides, plus sidewalk along the outside lane. What happens when someone's car overheats (or runs out of gas, etc.) in that lineup of never ending cars? There's no where to pull off into an emergency lane! All it takes is one or two breakdowns and the entire road will be one giant parking lot. Is this not obvious to the people at FDOT?

Beach FanaticAuthor

Jun 26, '09 · 8:16 AM#10

Does anyone know what the final lane pattern, when it's all done, will be at the entrance to the high school? There have been many mornings in the last year that I wished there was a light there. Turning into the entrance from the northbound lane can be challenging with all the southbound traffic in the morning. Is there any hope for a light now that there will be 2 lanes to cross? I'm assuming that there will be a way to cross the southbound lanes to get into the school.

Don't know, but we are taking JD Miller road and coming in the back way to work and basketball practice until further notice.

There is supposed to be an "opening" where one can come into the Courthouse Annex parking lot by the Chamber of Commerce, but it was blocked when we came to work. Right now, Coastal Centre is no can do.

Going to be interesting telling marriage license couples from out-of-town how to get here today... :bang:

Beach Fanatic

Jun 26, '09 · 8:19 AM#11

Does anyone know what the final lane pattern, when it's all done, will be at the entrance to the high school? There have been many mornings in the last year that I wished there was a light there. Turning into the entrance from the northbound lane can be challenging with all the southbound traffic in the morning. Is there any hope for a light now that there will be 2 lanes to cross? I'm assuming that there will be a way to cross the southbound lanes to get into the school.

I would strongly suggest that you enter the back of school via JD Miller. No turn lane this morning for school northbound. Hopefully with the base already there they will knock the other side out before school starts so we can have 4 lanes. I lived in Houston for 17 years and when something had to be done on the roads they would go 24/7 till done using lights at night. They had it down to an art.

SoWal Insider

Jun 26, '09 · 8:43 AM#12

I would strongly suggest that you enter the back of school via JD Miller. No turn lane this morning for school northbound. Hopefully with the base already there they will knock the other side out before school starts so we can have 4 lanes. I lived in Houston for 17 years and when something had to be done on the roads they would go 24/7 till done using lights at night. They had it down to an art.

They're never done in Houston. :wave:

SoWal Expert

Jun 26, '09 · 8:45 AM#13

I, too, wondered if the new road was only two lanes wide with no emergency lane, and why the heck do they make a side walk touching the road on a road as busy as 331? I guess we will soon see.

Beach Lover

Jun 26, '09 · 12:19 PM#14

I, too, wondered if the new road was only two lanes wide with no emergency lane, and why the heck do they make a side walk touching the road on a road as busy as 331? I guess we will soon see.

Just went by again... maybe the sidewalk is there for pedestrian evacuation when the road is impassable due to stalled cars!

I also noticed that the section of US 98 that has curb & gutter (SRB near Jambone's) has a shorter curb against the median with a 45 degree angle which would allow a car tire to roll over it into the median. That makes a lot more sense than a 6" - 8" vertical barrier as with US 331. I wonder if the bureaucrats at FDOT bothered to get a review of the plans by emergency services personnel, I would expect them to balk at the current setup.

Beach Fanatic

Jun 26, '09 · 12:33 PM#15

can not expect much from the Department of Transportation office of Non-planning....

these are the same folks who brought you a four laned Highway 98, but didn't see the need for traffic signals at the intersections of Highway 98 and 283 and 395....

many people died before the citizens of this community banded together to insist upon traffic signals. :bang:

call the Commissioners now if it is as bad as this sounds!

SoWal Expert

Jun 27, '09 · 8:16 PM#16

south bound lane (of the new section), south of the Bay

north bound lane (of the new section), south of the Bay

Beach Lover

Jun 29, '09 · 8:18 AM#17

Thanks for the pics... which are worth a thousand words! I feel better already and my confidence in government is "partially" restored.

Beach Fanatic

Jun 30, '09 · 10:15 AM#18

They're never done in Houston.

I know. I heard of families that had 3 generations that helped build 45 south to galveston. Crazy.

Beach FanaticAuthor

Jun 30, '09 · 7:55 PM#19

I've now heard that the new lanes are treacherous in a torrential downpour with a small car or even a mid-size sedan. Drainage issues...

Of course, driving any vehicle in a torrential downpour is not particularly safe in the first place.

Beach Fanatic

Jul 1, '09 · 6:12 AM#20

I've now heard that the new lanes are treacherous in a torrential downpour with a small car or even a mid-size sedan. Drainage issues...

Of course, driving any vehicle in a torrential downpour is not particularly safe in the first place.

Good thing that seldom happens here. :rolling:

SoWal Expert

Jul 1, '09 · 3:32 PM#21

I've now heard that the new lanes are treacherous in a torrential downpour with a small car or even a mid-size sedan. Drainage issues...

Of course, driving any vehicle in a torrential downpour is not particularly safe in the first place.

That was my first thought when I tested it out Monday. SSSSSluiceway! :bang:

That and "how much faster/cheaper would this be w/o those annoying plastic reflector inserts."