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Lake Patience Opens For Oakstead Traffic Soon

By SHERRI LONON IN THE LOOP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

Motorists who have been anticipating the long-awaited opening of the Lake Patience Road extension into the Oakstead subdivision won't have to hold their breath much longer.

Bob Shepherd, chief project manager for the county, said work should be completed by Dec. 15. The road, however, may not open to traffic until re-striping work is completed on Lake Patience up to U.S. 41 .

The $532,000 project was given notice to proceed on Aug. 18. The 1,100-foot extension will connect Lake Patience Road within the Oakstead subdivision to the dead-end Lake Patience Road that originates at U.S. 41.

Work on the extension initially was to begin in 2006 when Oakstead Elementary School first opened. The school at 19925 Lake Patience Road, is presently only accessible from Oakstead Boulevard.

. Shepherd said the county had planned for a Dec. 5 opening, but it was delayed due to a digging conflict with Progress Energy.

Oakstead Elementary School is preparing to make sure traffic flow in front of the school is smooth and that students stay safe, said Principal Tammy Kimpland. Since its opening, Oakstead has been basically situated on a dead end street. Once the road opens, Kimpland said parents and students will find themselves dealing with traffic coming from two different directions.

"We're having a traffic study done," said Kimpland. The study could show the need to have a licensed traffic controller onsite to direct the flow of cars in the morning and afternoon.

"Our buses will still come in from Oakstead Boulevard, but everyone else will have the option to come in the other way," she said.

Kimpland said she is awaiting word from the state DOT on the need for traffic assistance at the school.

The extension is just the first leg of the county's plans for Lake Patience, said Shepherd. Right of way acquisition is under way for phase two of the project, which will increase the width of the existing two-lane road to four lanes.

Editor Sherri Lonon can be reached at (813) 948-4287 or at slonon@mediageneral.com.

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