Riverview/Apollo Beach
50 31 C E L E B R A T I N G
December 2019 Volume 17, Issue 12 Ph: 657-2418 1 7
Y E A R S
O F
P U B L I S H I N G
P O S I T I V E
C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
Big Bend Road At I-75 Interchange Scheduled For $65 Million Widening And Improvements
Two Sea Turtles Released From Florida Aquarium Apollo Beach Rehab Center
Big Bend Rd./I-75 exit ramp signal near the South County Public Works facility. The current I-75 northbound ramp will be removed in its entirety. Southbound improvements to the Big Bend Rd./I-75 interchange include constructing a new off-ramp for westbound Big Bend Rd. traffic The rendering shows I-75 from north to south, Apollo Beach which will eliminate the to the right and Riverview to the left. need to cross Big Bend Rd. exiting I-75 from the Big Bend Rd. will be north. The southbound I-75 off-ramp with widened from four lanes to six with conalso be lengthened in order to eliminate struction beginning in late 2021. The 1.6backups into travel lanes on I-75. mile project will stretch Eastbound Big Bend Rd. travelers between Covington Garden Dr. and Simmons Loop and will include enhanced will have an additional exit lane added and will continue to use the same traffic pedestrian, bicycle and bus pattern as is currently utilized without havfacilities. Pedestrian safety features will ing to share the exit with vehicles heading include wide sidewalks and enhanced west. crosswalks and signals. Old Big Bend Rd. will be reconstructThe joint design-build project ed to avoid the ramps to be built as part between Hillsborough County and the of the Big Bend Rd./I-75 interchange Florida Department of Transportation along with a roundabout utilized at the (FDOT) was initially planned to be comOld Big Bend Rd./Bullfrog Creek Rd. pleted in two phases and take up to 10 intersection. years. It will now be done simultaneously Signal improvements at Covington as a single six-year project. The new Garden Dr. and Simmons Loop as well anticipated completion date is slated for as improved storm water drainage are late 2024. Northbound improvements to the Big part of the $65,500,000 project, of which FDOT will be contributing $20,000,000. Bend Rd./I-75 interchange include conHillsborough County is also pursuing structing a new northbound on-ramp for additional funding (Build Grant) from the westbound Big Bend Rd. traffic which will Federal Highway Administration to offset realign the traffic from a left-turn across local county funds. travel lanes to a right-hand lane merging For more information, contact Manny onto the interstate. Eastbound travelers on Big Bend Rd. Santos, E.I. Public Works project manager, at 635-5400 (CIP Project Number: heading north onto I-75 will have a dedi69657000) or visit www.hillsboroughcouncated two-lane on-ramp added that will be accessible via a left-turn at the existing ty.org/en/government/county-projects.
The Florida Izar and Marco were Aquarium’s Animal cleared for release Response Team, supback into the wild by ported by Florida Blue, the Florida Fish and successfully Wildlife Conservation released two green sea Commission (FWC) turtles back into the and the veterinary Atlantic Ocean at staff at the Aquarium. Matanzas Inlet. Since opening “It’s always a great earlier this year, The day when you get to see Florida Aquarium’s turtles go back into the Sea Turtle wild after being rehabiliRehabilitation Center Two sea turtles were recently tated. Izar holds a spe- released back into the wild after being has taken in 14 sea rehabilitated at The Florida cial place in my heart Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation turtle patients for after all the treatment care. Currently, the in Apollo Beach. that he was given and with the amputacenter houses three species of turtles, tion of his front right flipper,” said Dr. including loggerhead, green and Kemp’s Lindsey Waxman. ridley. Since opening in 1995, The Florida The two sea turtles, Izar and Marco, Aquarium has rescued hundreds of ill and arrived at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea injured sea turtles. Guest admission and Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Apollo memberships help support these rescue Beach on April 1 from Volusia County. efforts, along with generous donations. They were found suffering from cold-stunAll care and turtle rehabilitation by ning, which is when sea turtles are The Florida Aquarium is done with the exposed to cold ocean water and air tem- approval of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife peratures for an extended period, render- Service and the FWC under conditions ing them immobile since they are coldnot harmful to marine turtles and authorblooded. ized under conservation activities purCold-stunned turtles are unable to suant to FWC MTP-19-179. swim and can develop symptoms, includVisit www.flaquarium.org. ing decreased heart rate, low blood circulation and pneumonia. Upon intake, one of the sea turtles, In This Izar, had a puncture wound on its front Issue right flipper; the injury has unknown origins. The turtle received a blood transfusion from one of the aquarium’s other BELL SHOALS ROAD CONSTRUCTION PG 4 long-term patients, Banner, and quickly EAST BAY HONORS COACH ..............PG 11 improved. In the weeks following its care, Izar also received a CT scan at Tampa CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTINGS .........PG 12 General Hospital to get a better look at CHALKLINES .....................................PG 32 the injured flipper. Over time, The Florida Aquarium’s veterinary staff administered SPORTS CONNECTION......................PG 34 antibiotics in hopes of saving the flipper, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT................PG 38 but it was found that the injury was not healing correctly, and the flipper needed EYE ON BUSINESS .....................PGS 25‐26 to be amputated. Izar has since comHOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE .........BACK SECTION pletely recovered from surgery and can survive with no issue in the wild. READ MORE LOCAL NEWS ONLINE After a short period in rehab at The Florida Aquarium’s Sea Turtle www.ospreyobserver.com Rehabilitation Center in Apollo Beach,
Staff Report
Osprey Observer 2109 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Valrico, FL 33596
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By Brian Bokor
RIVERVIEW
Now Offering FREE DELIVERY Saturday, December 14 from 12 Noon-7 p.m. is this year’s Apollo Beach Golf Cart Parade, starting at the Salty Shamrock at 6186 N U.S. Hwy. 41. The parade will showcase decorated golf carts and there will be beads and candy for all. Cart line-up begins 5:30 p.m. and lighted parade begins 7 p.m. Activities and contests back at Salty Shamrock after the parade.
for purchases over $50 Serving Our Customers in 4 Locations: Lithia • Big Bend, Riverview • 301, Riverview • Sun City Center
405-8990 7441 US Hwy 301 South, Riverview (1 Mile North of Alafia River, Flea Market Plaza)