Interstate 75, University Parkway lane closures planned this week as work on new interchange continues
UNIVERSITY PARK -- As work continues on Florida's first Diverging Diamond Interchange, temporary lane closures are planned along Interstate 75 and University Parkway.
On Sunday, there will be a new traffic pattern on southbound I-75 at University Parkway as "traffic will be shifting to the left onto the Acrow temporary bridge and then shifting to the right onto the existing I-75 southbound lanes," according to a construction update.
The new traffic pattern is expected to be in place while the existing I-75 southbound bridge is demolished, according to the update.
The I-75 southbound on-ramp at University Parkway will be closed Sunday during the night and overnight hours. Traffic will be detoured to Cattlemen Road and Fruitville Road.
These closures are part of the $74.5 million project, which is expected to be completed in time for the 2017 World Rowing Championship at nearby Nathan Benderson Park from Sept. 24-Oct. 1, 2017. The diverging diamond interchange will be the largest in the United States when completed.
Other temporary lane closures this week are:
From 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night through Saturday, there will intermittent lane closures on northbound and southbound I-75. Single lane closures begin at 8 p.m. with double lane closures beginning at 10 p.m. Work includes widening the bridge at Foley Creek, widening the shoulder, installing a barrier wall, constructing temporary detour lanes, assembling the Acrow temporary bridge and installing drainage pipe.
From 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. every night through Saturday, there will be intermittent lane closures on eastbound and westbound University Parkway from Cooper Creek Boulevard to Market Street as well as at the on-ramps and off-ramps at I-75. Work includes the installation of drainage pipes and temporary signals.
Separate from the Diverging Diamond Interchange project, the traffic signals at Cooper Creek Boulevard and University Parkway intersection are undergoing a system change, according to a construction update email.
"Prior to implementation of the new system, the signals are required to stay in 'detection' mode which may have an effect on the existing timings," according to the email. "By early to mid-March, the new system should be fully operational and should help to improve traffic flow at this very congested intersection."
For more information: swflroads.com/i75/university/.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published March 1, 2016 at 10:53 AM with the headline "Interstate 75, University Parkway lane closures planned this week as work on new interchange continues ."