Tuesday's AM commute included a "tsunami of scrap metal" on US-301 and the closure of a bridge

Recap of the morning drive

The Columbus Drive bridge in Tampa, Fla., will be closed for three months to undergo repairs.
Photographer: WFTS
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Posted: 02/21/2012

By: Meredyth Censullo

TAMPA, Fla. - Tuesday morning's commute included a gas theft gone wrong that temporarily closed Citrus Park Drive, and overturned scrap metal hauler that shut down US-301 in Thonotosassa, and the closure of the Columbus Drive Bridge in West Tampa. Here's a look at the morning's events, as they happened.

9:12 -- W TAMPA: Columbus Dr Bridge closed at 5:30 AM and will remain closed through May. Alternate routes include MLK Jr Blvd to the north, or Cypress to the south.

9:09 -- TAMPA: Accident SB Memorial approaching I-275 overpass near TIA.

9:07 -- WESLEY CHAPEL HS remains in modified lockdown, students must stay where they are. Item in question was in courtyard trash can & smoking.

9:02 -- INTERSTATE UPDATE... SB I-75 still slow between Bruce B Downs & Fowler Ave. Delays SB Veterans near Waters toll. WB I-4 and SB I-275 sluggish at the downtown Tampa junction.

8:58 - HOWARD FRANKLAND BRIDGE traffic still slow approaching the Tampa end of the bridge on NB I-275. Visual delays caused by minor accident on right shoulder.

8:52 -- THONOTOSASSA UPDATE: Wreckers on scene of crash on 301 & Ohio, but it won't be cleared anytime soon. Detour: 579 & Main St.

8:48 -- I-75 NB is congested through the Brandon area, but there are no big delays there per @MyFDOT cameras.

8:46 -- WESLEY CHAPEL UPDATE: No one being transported from Wesley Chapel High School, where some sort of "acid bomb" detonated this morning. One person is being treated at the scene.

8:41 -- ODESSA: Accident with roadblock on EB SR-54 @ Crossing Blvd (near Suncoast Pkwy) #Pasco

8:40 -- TAMPA: Per @DeborahCAN, Linebaugh is at a standstill heading to Gunn/Busch, likely due to earlier crash there.

8:38 -- HOWARD FRANKLAND: Accident on outside/right shoulder of NB I-275 approaching the Kennedy exit on the Tampa end of the bridge.

8:37 -- TAMPA/TOWN N COUNTRY: Crash w/roadblock on WB Hillsborough Ave just past the Veterans Exwy per FHP.

8:34 --WESLEY CHAPEL: Wesley Chapel HS, on Wells Rd, is under a modified lockdown after the detonation of a Muriatic Acid-type bomb, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. We are awaiting updates on injuries or suspects at this time.

8:20 -- CITRUS PARK: Clean-up/investigation into botched fuel theft at the BP near the mall continues. No roadblock. but possible visual delays.

8:14 -- I-275 SB DRIVE TIME from Bearss to Dale Mabry = 25-30 minutes. #Tampa

8:11 -- TAMPA UPDATE: 1 lane open each direction of Busch/Gunn @ Himes Ave per FHP

8:06 -- PINELLAS CO is accident-free right now. US-19 is sluggish in both directions before/after Gulf to Bay.

7:59 -- I-75 DRIVE TIME southbound from SR-54 in Wesley Chapel to Fowler Ave in Tampa = 35 minutes.

7:57 -- TAMPA: Disabled vehicle on 301 @ Adamo/SR-60

7:55 -- THONOTOSASSA UPDATE: HCSO dispatch says it may be 3pm before crash site on 301 @ Ohio is cleared.

7:51 -- I-4: Crash reported WB near 50th St. Don't see it right now on my traffic cams, but traffic is generally backed up from 50th through 275.

7:47 -- TAMPA: Intersection of Busch Blvd/Gunn Hwy & Himes Ave blocked by accident per FHP.

7:34 -- HOWARD FRANKLAND: Delays NB I-275 on the Tampa end of the bridge through Westshore.

7:28 -- THONOTOSASSA UPDATE: Per Captain Al, US-301 @ Ohio crash is a semi hauling scrap metal on it's side, along with an SUV. Meanwhile, 2 cars collided and ran into a small trailer. AVOID! 579 to Main is alternate.

7:24 -- MULBERRY UPDATE: Crash on SR-60 @ Coronet *did involve a school bus but there were no students on board.

7:20 -- I-75 SB jammed between Apex and Fowler Ave. Drive time of about 20 minutes.

7:16 -- I-275 SB is jammed up out of N Tampa. Pretty typical.

7:13 -- TAMPA: Accident w/roadblock on NB Memorial approaching TIA. SB traffic near airport generally slow.

7:11 -- MULBERRY: Crash on SR-60 @ Coronet Rd near Hillsborough/Polk line. Caller says it involves school bus.

7:09 -- THONOTOSASSA UPDATE: Huge mess on 301 S of Ohio St. Rolled semi + fire. Traffic detoured through a mobile home park. 579 to Main is also alternate route per Capt. Al on scene.

6:58 -- THONOTOSASSA UPDATE: Crash on US-301 @ Ohio involves semi & car; possible trapped driver. Avoid. Take 579 off of 301 if heading SB.

6:53 -- VETERANS EXWY: Car w/flat tire SB near Ehrlich. Other drivers slowing down to look. If you get a flat on a Florida interstate, call *347 for free help from a Road Ranger.

6:48 -- THONOTOSASSA: FHP has a report of a crash w/roadblock on US-301 @ Ohio Ave. That's just north of the Harney Rd merge.

6:42 -- Captain Al will have live aerials of the Columbus Dr Bridge closure in about 2 minutes on-air.

6:34 -- BRANDON: Accident - but no injuries reported - on Providence Rd @ Sweet Ridge Ave, north of Providence Lakes.

6:32 -- LARGO: Medical call on 2nd St SW @ 8th Ave. Could be a crash. Near the Post Office.

6:30 -- CITRUS PARK: Live chopper pics from the BP on Citrus Park Dr near the mall show the van used to siphon gas is surrounded in crime tape.

6:21 -- PINELLAS COUNTY is accident free.

6:14 -- I-75

SARASOTA: Hit and run traffic crash reported on NB I-75 @ Sumter Blvd (Exit 182) in the North Port area. No roadblock.

6:11 -- VETERANS EXWY DRIVE TIME of 12 minutes southbound from the Dale Mabry on-ramp to the I-275 exit ramps to I-275.

6:08 -- E TAMPA UPDATE: Obstruction already moved from 50th St & Adamo.

6:06 -- E TAMPA: 'Obstruction" reported @ 50th St & Adamo/SR-60. There's a RR Xing just east of there that could be the issue.

6:00 -- BRIDGES are delay free (with the exception of the Columbus Dr Bridge, which is CLOSED)

5:41 -- INTERSTATES are accident and delay free.

5:36 -- CITRUS PARK UPDATE: PER HCSO, an attempted gas theft at the BP on Citrus Park Dr. resulted in gas spill. Haz-Mat, Bomb Team on scene to examine van used in theft for hazardous devises. Several businesses are closed while clean-up underway. Roads open, but traffic may become congested from onlooker delays.

5:30 -- W TAMPA: Columbus Dr Bridge is CLOSED. Alternate routes: MLK, parallel to the north, or I-275 to the South.

5:27 -- CITRUS PARK: EB Citrus Park Dr reopened following earlier fuel spill near the mall.

5:24 -- W TAMPA: Barricades are coming out! Columbus Drive Bridge will close soon!

5:21 -- W. TAMPA: Columbus Dr Bridge is still OPEN.

5:13 -- W TAMPA: Per my photojournalist on the scene, "Hearing and seeing a little activity off to the side (of Columbus Drive). I think they're getting ready (to close the bridge)."

5:04 -- CITRUS PARK: Report of a fuel spill blocking EB Citrus Park Dr past Sheldon (near the mall). We have a crew going to check it out.

5:03 -- WESLEY CHAPEL: Accident on EB SR-54 @ Wesley Chapel Loop near Curley Rd. No roadblock reported. Near Meadow Point.

4:55 -- TAMPA: Columbus Drive Bridge remains OPEN, however is scheduled to close this morning. I'll let you know as soon as that happens. The alternate routes are MLK to the north, or I-275 to the south. The bridge will be closed through May.