FDOT starts major construction project on busy US 19 for safety improvements; traffic impacts expected

The Florida Department of Transportation has started construction on a road improvement project in Pinellas County along U.S. 19, from S.R. 580 to north of Curlew Road. The $242.6 million project has been years in the making to improve traffic flow and safety. Right now, the area is a six-lane divided highway. FDOT is going to change it to a controlled access roadway and add interchanges and frontage roads.