Take A Bike Between Clearwater and Tampa

Ever thought about taking a bicycle across Tampa Bay without the worry of traffic?

A route could be built soon if a state project gets public approval.

Pinellas county residents are asked to come out and share their thoughts about a proposed multi-use trail that would be built along scenic Courtney Campbell Causeway Thursday at .

The eight-mile long trail could be used by bicyclists and pedestrians to travel between Pinellas and Hillsborough County, said Kris Carson, spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation.

It would connect to the Pinellas trail system at the proposed Bayshore Trail extension. The possible 12-foot wide trail would take bicyclists, joggers and other non-motorized travelers along the south side of the causeway to the Ben T. Davis Beach entrance in Hillsborough County.

The majority of the $20 million trail would be built using existing maintenance roads and fill used to build the causeway, Carson said. However, it would call for bridges to be built along side the existing spans crossing the bay.

The first segment would be built from the Pinellas and Hillsborough county line east toward Ben T. Davis beach in 2012, Carson said.

However, the project is in its infancy. And could not be built depending on what the public sentiment is.

Florida Department of Transportation representatives will answer questions from the public at two meetings.

Written comments can be mailed by April 8, to be included with the public hearing record. Comments also can be sent throughout the project development and environmental study process.

Send them to Ming Gao, Intermodal Systems Development Manager, FDOT-District 7, 11201 N McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa, FL, 33612-6456.

The two public meetings:

From 5 to 7 p.m. at Thursday (March 24) at Clearwater Christian College, 3400 Gulf to Bay Blvd.

From 5 to 7 p.m. March 29 in the BluVu Room at the Westin Tampa Bay, 7627 W Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa.

Call (813) 975-6060.