Why is the Bloomingdale and Lithia Pinecrest intersection so bad?

Because two overcrowded roads meet at a signal that was designed for a fraction of the traffic it now handles. Add a Publix on one corner, a Walgreens on another, two strip malls, and school traffic from three different zones, and you get the intersection that every Valrico resident has a story about.

I have lived in this area for over two decades. I have watched this intersection go from "a little busy at 5 PM" to "you might miss two full light cycles during school pickup." Here is what you need to know to survive it.

The Layout

Bloomingdale Avenue runs east-west. Lithia Pinecrest Road runs north-south. They meet at a standard four-way signalized intersection just north of the Publix-anchored Shoppes of Lithia plaza and just south of the Lithia Crossing plaza (future home of Whole Foods).

Each direction has dedicated left-turn lanes, but the eastbound left-turn lane onto northbound Lithia Pinecrest backs up past the Walgreens entrance during peak hours. The southbound right-turn lane onto westbound Bloomingdale is a free-flow turn, but people stop anyway because they are not expecting it.

Peak Hours — When to Avoid It

Morning rush (7:15 AM - 8:30 AM): Parents heading to Alafia Elementary, Burns Middle, and Newsome or Bloomingdale High create a school traffic surge that overlaps with the regular commute. Southbound Lithia Pinecrest is the worst direction during this window.

Afternoon school pickup (2:00 PM - 3:30 PM): The school traffic reverses. Northbound Lithia Pinecrest stacks up. Bloomingdale eastbound backs up from the Lithia Pinecrest light all the way past the Bloomingdale Animal Hospital entrance.

Evening commute (4:45 PM - 6:30 PM): Bloomingdale Avenue from Bell Shoals Road to Lithia Pinecrest is graded as a Level of Service D, which means it operates at 82 percent capacity during normal conditions. During evening rush, it exceeds that. Both directions on Bloomingdale are slow. Add rain and it gets worse.

Saturday morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Weekend errand traffic. Everyone is going to Publix, Walgreens, or one of the strip mall businesses. It is not as bad as weekday rush hour, but it is worse than you would expect for a Saturday.

The Turn Lane Traps

Trap 1: Eastbound Bloomingdale left onto northbound Lithia Pinecrest. This left-turn lane is not long enough. When it fills, cars waiting to turn left block the through lane. If you are trying to go straight through the intersection on Bloomingdale, you can get stuck behind someone who could not fit into the turn lane.

Trap 2: The Publix entrance right turn off southbound Lithia Pinecrest. People turning right into the Shoppes of Lithia plaza slow down way too early and brake in the through lane. There is a deceleration area, but it is short.

Trap 3: Northbound Lithia Pinecrest right onto eastbound Bloomingdale. This is the free-flow right turn. A sign says "right turn does not stop." But at least once a week I watch someone come to a full stop, which nearly causes a rear-end collision.

The Whole Foods Factor

When Whole Foods opens at Lithia Crossing, traffic on Lithia Pinecrest between Bloomingdale and the next signal north will increase significantly. A new traffic light is being installed between Lithia Crossing and the Shoppes of Lithia plaza. That will be the fourth signal within a mile-and-a-half stretch of Lithia Pinecrest. Expect some adjustment pain when that goes live.

Survival Tips

1. Avoid the intersection between 7:15-8:30 AM and 2:00-3:30 PM on school days. Use Lumsden Road or SR-60 as alternatives if you are heading east-west.
2. If you need Publix, go before 9 AM or after 7 PM. The parking lot and intersection are both calmer.
3. Use the Lithia Crossing entrance off Bloomingdale (west side) instead of the Lithia Pinecrest entrance. Less conflict with through traffic.
4. Waze and Google Maps will sometimes route you through the Bloomingdale neighborhood streets to avoid this intersection. The residents on those streets are not thrilled about it, but the apps do not care.
5. If you are turning left from eastbound Bloomingdale, get into the turn lane early. If the lane is full, go straight and make a U-turn at the next opportunity rather than blocking the through lane.
6. Rain doubles the delay. Florida drivers slow to a crawl in rain. If it is raining during rush hour, add 10-15 minutes to your estimate.

Will It Get Better?

The Lithia Pinecrest Road widening project and the new traffic signal should help somewhat. But the fundamental problem is that Valrico has grown faster than its road infrastructure. Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest were not designed for the volume they carry today. Until Hillsborough County adds capacity — and that means widening, not just signals — this intersection will remain the one that every Valrico resident complains about at dinner.

We have all earned that right.

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Barrett Henry is a Broker Associate with RE/MAX Collective, serving Valrico and Tampa Bay. For current Valrico listings, call (813) 733-7907 or visit nowtb.com.