PINELLAS COUNTY — When school lets out at Seminole High School, 131st can get chaotic.
“People are coming in and out. So it’s very packed,” said student Corey Sulpe.
Pinellas County officials say they listened to complaints about the area by the high school and neighboring middle school and will begin work to improve the intersection and sidewalks.
“These sidewalks are very skinny. And a lot of cars have driven on them,” said student Colton Turner.
The project will cover the stretch of 131st Street North between 82nd Avenue and 86th Avenue North.
First off the busy intersection will get attention.
It will now have a dedicated left-turn lane, and pedestrian crossing signals and lighting.
The project will also double the size of the sidewalks that are just 5-feet wide.
The area has several accidents over the years, some involved cars hitting people walking.
“It’s been known for a long time that this has been a problem there. Parents, students, and the schools have voiced their opinions that it needs to be done," said Pinellas County project manager John Carpenter.
Two other schools are nearby.
Bauder Elementary and Career Academies of Seminole and those who go to them will also benefit from the improvements.
“The satisfaction is you know there’s going to be improved safety conditions for both the motorists and most important, pedestrians including the school-age children out there," said Carpenter.
During construction, there will be detours for people walking and those on bikes.
Officials say the work could be done by March 2022.
You can follow the project's progress at http://www.pinellascounty.org/publicworks/projects/131stStN_intersection.htm
