Southshore's Traffic Nightmare

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THE SKINNY

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• US 301 Nightmare

• The Beautiful Game

• Mirrors in The Sky

Featured Story

US 301: The Southshore Obstacle Course

Between construction and shifting lanes, US 301 has become a daily challenge for Southshore drivers

Excitement may be the spice of life, but I think I can do without that spice on my daily commute. Let’s talk about US 301 for a minute.

In the last 72 hours alone, I’ve seen three wrong-way drivers, two cars drive straight into the median, and at one point, I nearly found myself driving down the sidewalk. I’m not here to question anyone’s driving ability except my own, but what in the world is happening out there?

I’m all for progress. Roads need to improve as the community grows. But let’s not shoot for everything, everywhere, all at once. Big Bend? Always. Symmes to Gibsonton? Of course. Paseo Al Mar? You know it.

The bigger problem is the constant change. New lanes appear, old lanes disappear, and cones and barricades pop up like weeds. The lane you drove in yesterday might not even exist tomorrow.

And honestly, it’s gotten so chaotic that no one even complains about the potholes anymore. Trust me, they’re still there. But when you’re dodging barricades that seem to appear out of thin air, getting tossed around in your seat like Maverick showing you how to fly inverted, and simultaneously avoiding drivers who think yield, stop, and one-way signs are more like suggestions, you sometimes forget about the swimming-pool-sized holes in the road.

And if you’re driving at night or in a Florida downpour, you’d better be on expert mode just to make it through the intersection.

With summer coming and more drivers hitting the road, hopefully we start seeing some of these projects wrap up soon. Until then, be careful out there.

Right now, Southshore’s roads feel less like a commute and more like a Baja-style obstacle course that nobody asked for.

What are your thoughts on the state of our roads lately?

Proper Football Is Coming to Tampa

Leeds United and Wrexham AFC will face off at Raymond James Stadium on July 25

If you’ve ever spent a Saturday morning with a cup of coffee watching Premier League highlights or arguing with friends about whether soccer should be called football, Tampa is about to give fans a reason to get excited.

This summer, Raymond James Stadium will host an international preseason matchup between Leeds United and Wrexham AFC, bringing two well-known clubs from the British game to Tampa Bay.

The match is scheduled for July 25 and is part of a summer tour that brings European teams to the United States before their regular seasons begin. For the clubs, these games are about preparation. For fans, it is a rare chance to see teams from across the Atlantic play live without needing a passport.

Leeds United is one of England’s historic clubs with a long and passionate fan base, while Wrexham has exploded in popularity in recent years thanks to its Hollywood-backed revival and documentary series that introduced the Welsh club to a global audience.

Soccer has quietly grown across the Tampa Bay area over the years. Youth leagues are packed, local clubs are thriving, and plenty of households now start their weekends with international matches on television. Events like this show just how large that fan base has become.

For Southshore residents who follow the sport, the game offers something we do not get very often. A chance to experience the energy of international soccer right here in Tampa.

It may not be the Premier League, but hearing thousands of fans cheering for clubs from across the pond inside Raymond James Stadium should still make for a pretty memorable night.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

Proposal for a million satellites and mirrors in the sky

You ever seen things happening and just wondered, who on Earth thought this was a good idea? This is one of those.

The FCC is reviewing two proposals that sound like they came straight out of a sci-fi comedy sketch. One is from a California space start-up called Reflect Orbital, which wants to launch satellites equipped with giant mirrors designed to reflect sunlight back down to Earth. Their dream is to provide “sunlight after dark,” lighting up areas that are normally pitch black. Their first satellite, Earendil-1, could launch as early as April, and the mirrors are supposed to beam light comparable to a full moon back at us.

The other comes from SpaceX, the private rocket company led by Elon Musk. SpaceX is asking the FCC for permission to eventually put up to one million satellites into orbit as part of a plan to build space-based data centers.

None of this sounds good. Night and day exist for reasons. The planet has operated on that rhythm long before any of us showed up. It’s nothing short of the arrogance of man to look at that balance and think, “We’ll fix it.” We’ve done that all over this planet, and now we’re taking our hold my beer attitude intergalactic.

I’m not sure how many people are lining up asking for orbiting mirrors to brighten their backyard at 10 p.m. And I’m pretty certain most people are not on board with Elon launching a million satellites to clutter up the heavens. Although judging on his past performance with the cyber truck and the roadster, it might be 200 years before any of those satellites get off the ground.

Whether you love the idea or think it’s cosmic insanity, you don’t have to sit on the sidelines. The FCC has opened a public comment period where you can weigh in before decisions are made. Anyone can submit a comment through the FCC’s online portal. You don’t need a PhD in astronomy or a rocket scientist badge. Just say what you think about preserving the natural night sky versus turning it into a canvas of man-made light.

More Information Here

Southshore Spotlight

The Mabel & Ellsworth Simmons Charitable Foundation, INC

The Simmons Foundation is a nonprofit committed to supporting children, families, and educational opportunities across the Tampa Bay region. Through a mix of scholarships, community grants, and partnerships with local organizations, the foundation works to expand access to education and improve the quality of life for young people. Its programs focus on empowerment, resources for underserved communities, and long-term investment in the success of local students and families.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

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Eggs Up Grill

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Our area high schools boast state champions and multiple division titleists. Come out and show your support for these teams and for our community.

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.