SOUTH TAMPA - The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house Thursday to update the community on two major road projects.

Department staff will be available to answer questions about the reconstruction of Gandy Boulevard from the Gandy Bridge to South Dale Mabry Highway.

The $20 million project will transform the existing four-lane road with center turn lane to a four-lane highway with a 30-foot-wide, landscaped median. The work is expected to last about two years.

Al Steenson, president of the Gandy/Sun Bay South Civic Association, is calling on the state to develop a Web site to track the project's progress.

The transportation department also is replacing concrete slabs on South Dale Mabry from Sevilla Street to Kennedy Boulevard and realigning the intersection at Bay to Bay Boulevard. The $4 million project should take about a year to complete.

Mark Holan

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Update on Gandy Boulevard and South Dale Mabry Highway road projects; Florida Department of Transportation staff will be available to answer questions

WHEN: 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday March 6, 2008

WHERE: Manhattan Center, 4210 W. Bay Villa Ave., behind Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library

CONTACT: Call Lori Buck of the Florida Department of Transportation at (813) 975-6284.