Relief is on the way for some of Pinellas County's busiest roads. Road improvements are planned for some of our most congested areas.

Sixteen sections of roadway will see added lanes and enhancements as part of the long range plan. Design of new, wider roads starts in two years, but shovels won't break ground for five. In all, more than $10 million will be invested in the county's top road projects.

"Those are all considered widening projects, so capacity improvements primarily,” said Tom Washburn, Pinellas County Traffic Engineer. “We'll be adding sidewalks, completing sidewalk gaps, adding bike lanes, accommodating transit stops and then some capacity improvements, so extra lanes as well."

So, which roads made the cut?

"There was a ranking, a weighting system. It had 13 to 15 different criteria. The two biggest are congestion, so the level of congestion on the roadways,” Washburn said. “That's an annual study that we do on the roadways, and then... crashes, high crash locations that tend to float those projects to the top of the priority list as well."

Top of the list is Starkey Road from East Bay Drive to Ulmerton Road. Project No. 2 is also on Starkey Road between Ulmerton and Bryan Dairy. No. 3 is 62nd Avenue North from U.S. 19 to 49th Street North.

One hundred percent of the money needed for the improvements is being drawn from the Penny for Pinellas sales tax.

Complete list of projects:
 
Starkey Rd from East Bay Dr to Ulmerton Rd
62nd Ave N from 34th St N to 49th St N
Starkey Rd from Ulmerton Rd to Bryan Dairy Rd
Forest Lakes Blvd from Sr 580 to Sr 584
Starkey Rd/Park St from Bryan Dairy Rd to Flame Vine Ave
102nd Ave N from 137th St N to 125th St N
102nd Ave N from 125th St N to 113th St N
Belleair Rd from US 19 to Keene Rd
22nd Ave S from 58th St S to 34th St S
Belcher Rd from NE Coachman Rd to Druid Rd
62nd Ave N from 49th St N to 68th St N
Belcher Rd from 38th Ave N to 54th Ave N
Indian Rocks Rd from Walsingham Rd to W Bay Dr
Starkey Rd/Park St from 54th Ave N to 84th Ln
Sunset Point Rd from Alt US 19 to Keene Rd
102nd Ave N from 113th St to Seminole Blvd.