U.S. 19 work ahead of schedule

CLEARWATER - Pinellas County's U.S. Highway 19 will now be completed by late 2013, three years ahead of schedule, according to one Pinellas County Commissioner.

Work should begin in November elevating U.S. 19 from just north of Whitney Road to just north of Gulf to Bay (S.R. 60).

Commissioner Karen Seel says federal economic stimulus money is what helped move the project ahead of schedule.

Currently, nine miles north and south of the elevation project is finished, and by completion, the roadway will provide drivers with 12 miles of non-stop, limited access between Gandy and S.R. 580.

Motorists already appreciate the improvements made so far.

"It's a lot cleaner, basically, the traffic is a lot more organized" said Peter Tran.

But they also know what to expect for the next several years.

"I commute on 19 every day, 6 days a week" says Daniel Cardwell. "And with the construction coming, in the long run it will be great, but in the short run, it is not going to be fun, it is not going to be fun at all."