August 2022
Riverview/Apollo Beach Edition
Page 3
APOLLO BEACH FLYOVER CONNECTING U.S. MEMBERS OF BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BECOME HWY. 301 AND U.S. HWY. 41 NOW OPEN EDUCATED ON THE FBI By Sharon Still ble by U.S. Highway 301 south of Big Bend Road at Balm Road. “It cuts my travel time to my daughter’s house in half,” said Gwen Sinclair of Apollo Beach, whose daughter lives in the Belmont subdivision located off U.S Highway 301 South in Riverview. County officials celebrated the opening of the Apollo Beach Flyover Construction of with a ribbon-cutting celebration. Bicyclists lined up with county officials to cut the ribbon, signifying the opening of the Apollo Flyover, a the extension took 18 much-needed road to help ease traffic congestion in southern Hillsbor- months, funded with ough County. $27 million provided by the county and the Drivers in southern Hillsborough County have an easier commute now that the remaining, from private developers. “This new Apollo Beach Flyover overpass, con- would not have been made possible withnecting U.S. Highway 41 in Apollo Beach out the financial contribution of private deto U.S. Highway 301 in Riverview is open. velopers,” Smith said. She explained that the project enhances County leaders, including County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Hillsborough Coun- Vision Zero principles with clearly marked ty Commissioner Mariela Smith (District 5 bicycle lanes, 8 ft. sidewalks and accessibil- countywide) gathered recently for a rib- ity in accordance with the American Disabilities Act. bon-cutting celebration. The Apollo Beach Flyover is the first “This is a real game changer,” said Smith. “It is just part of a larger network geared of many needed improvements in the Big toward improving the quality of life in the Bend Road and I-75 area. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is curarea.” The new Apollo Beach Flyover at Paseo rently working on an $81.7 million project, al Mar Boulevard is an east-west alterna- including adding new entrance and exit tive to drivers in southern Hillsborough ramps to Big Bend Road, increasing the County. It is a four-lane divided road over number of turn lanes in multiple spots and I-75 that is friendly to cars, pedestrians rebuilding the Old Big Bend Road and Big and bicyclists. The flyover will provide con- Bend Road bridges. Residents interested in receiving congestion relief for the Big Bend Road corristruction updates, including nightly lane dor to the north. On the west side, Paseo al Mar Boule- closures, can sign up on the FDOT website vard starts at U.S. Highway 41 and Apollo at www.fdottampabay.com; reference projBeach Boulevard. The east side is accessi- ect 424513-3-52-01.
By Ella Martin
On July 7, the local FBI live in the local community. and SWAT team made visits She explained to the stuto the middle school memdents what duties the FBI bers of the Boys & Girls Club possess and acknowledge of Tampa Bay at Marshall that these agents play a Middle School in Plant City more local role than many and Shields Middle School think. After Moriarty’s prein Ruskin. The event was orsentation, the children were ganized by the Boys & Girls able to ask any additional Club of Tampa Bay commuquestions they had. nity liaison, Ricky Gallon, At the end of the visit, the along with the local FBI. student members were givThe Boys & Girls Club was en the opportunity to try on founded 160 years ago, and FBI gear, which included a its goal is to provide a safe helmet and bulletproof vest. and encouraging environ- A student member of the Boys Gallon said that the & Girls Club of Tampa Bay ment for children of all ages. FBI decided to do an onThe Boys & Girls Club of Tam- trying on an FBI bulletproof site event at Marshall and vest. pa Bay has around Shields Middle 22,000 members School because “the and 22 clubs across summer programHillsborough and ming at Marshall Pasco counties. At and Shields Middle the event, middle School focuses on schoolers got the educational and caamazing opportureer aspirations.” nity to interactively This event was learn about what originally scheduled role the FBI plays in to be a field trip, but FBI agents talking to student members of the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay. society. due to the number of Elizabeth Morimembers who had arty, community outreach speinterest in learning about the cialist with the FBI’s Tampa DiFBI, they accommodated and vision, explained that the main decided to make it an on-site purpose of the event was “to event. introduce youth to the FBI and Gallon added, “The youth and explain that we work and live in myself alike had a great time the communities that we serve.” and learned a lot. I got a kick out of watchThe event at Plant City had around 95 ing the youth trying on the vests.” members and in Ruskin it had around 65 Overall, this event was very successful members in attendance. Moriarty attended and allowed all members of the Boys & Girls both events and spoke to middle school stu- Club to expand their knowledge about the dents about the FBI as well as agents that FBI while having fun.
