Safety measures to address lane departures, intersection crashes, speeding, and other roadway risks
Drivers traveling along Morris Bridge Road may notice new signs, pavement markings, rumble strips, and other safety features along the roadway. While some of these improvements may affect traffic flow during busy commuting hours, they are designed to address a documented history traffic incidents and make Morris Bridge Road safer for everyone who uses it.
Hillsborough County continues to work on safety improvements along the roughly nine-mile stretch of Morris Bridge Road, from Interstate 75 to the Pasco County line. The improvements are designed to reduce lane departures and intersection crashes while enhancing safety for bicyclists and other roadway users.
Why the safety improvements are needed
Hillsborough County reviewed traffic safety data along the Morris Bridge Road corridor between 2018 and 2023 and identified 217 crashes, including three fatalities. Nearly half (47%) occurred at intersections. The remaining 53% involved vehicles leaving their travel lanes, which can lead to crashes with other vehicles, roadside objects, or other hazards.
County research identified several leading factors associated with traffic incidents along the corridor, including:
- Speeding
- Improper or unsafe passing
- Impaired driving
- Aggressive driving
- Distracted driving
The data showed a need for safety measures that help drivers stay in their lanes, recognize intersections and curves, see traffic signals more clearly, and adjust their speed to roadway conditions.
Helping drivers stay in their lane
Several improvements along Morris Bridge Road are designed to reduce lane-departure crashes and discourage unsafe passing. No-passing zones and vertical delineators have been installed in areas where passing can create additional risk. The vertical posts provide a highly visible separation between opposing traffic and reinforce areas where drivers should not pass.
Reflective and profiled lane-line markings make lane boundaries easier to see, particularly at night and during poor visibility. The profiled markings also provide a noticeable change in the roadway when a vehicle crosses the line, giving drivers an additional warning that they are leaving their lane.
Feedback signs remind drivers of their speed and encourage them to slow down when traveling above the posted speed limit. These measures are particularly important for a corridor where speeding, unsafe passing, and lane departures have contributed traffic incidents.
Making intersections and curves easier to read
Drivers will also see flashing beacons and rumble strips at locations where additional warnings are needed. Flashing beacons draw a driver's attention to intersections, curves, and other areas where motorists need to be especially alert. Rumble strips provide both a visual and physical warning to drivers, helping to call attention to changes in the roadway and upcoming hazards.
The safety enhancement project also includes backplates with retroreflective borders around traffic signals. The bright borders make traffic signals more visible against their surroundings and can help drivers identify the signals more quickly, especially at night or during poor weather.
Improving safety for bicyclists
Morris Bridge Road is used by more than motorists, and the safety improvements also address bicycle travel along the corridor. The project includes bike lanes and safety enhancements at the bridge over the Hillsborough River, providing improved accommodation for people riding bicycles through the area.
Bicycle signs and lane markings have also been added throughout the corridor to help make drivers more aware that bicyclists may be sharing the roadway. Wildlife signs provide additional warnings in areas where drivers may encounter animals crossing the roadway.
Why safety improvements matter
The goal of the project is to make Morris Bridge Road safer. Drivers may encounter more clearly marked no-passing zones, speed feedback signs, and other features designed to encourage motorists to slow down and maintain their lanes. Those changes are intentional.
The County's traffic incident analysis showed that speeding and unsafe driving behaviors were among the leading factors associated with crashes along the corridor. The improvements are intended to create a roadway where drivers have more time to recognize intersections, curves, and other hazards while also maintaining control of their vehicles and sharing the road safely with bicyclists.
A safer Morris Bridge Road for everyone
Morris Bridge Road serves commuters, residents, bicyclists, and others traveling between Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. The safety improvements along the nine-mile corridor are designed to address specific crash patterns identified through Hillsborough County's research and data.
The changes may require drivers to adjust their commutes. For Hillsborough County, the goal is safety. Fewer traffic incidents mean fewer serious injuries and safer travel for everyone along Morris Bridge Road.
Stay up to date on Hillsborough County Public Works projects by visiting HCFL.gov/CIPDashboard.