Roadwork resumes on the SR 56 extension in Wesley Chapel!

I couldn't believe it.  I thought I was seeing a mirage when I saw this dump truck at SR 56 and Mansfield Blvd. this morning.  A Pasco County official confirmed that work has FINALLY resumed on the SR 56 extension to Meadow Pointe Blvd.  Work on the extension was halted in February of this year.  The final 1 inch layer of asphalt will be put down, striping done, and the construction barrels removed for an opening in 20-25 work days.  Also, the traffic lights at Mansfield and Meadow Pointe Blvd. are a separate project and their installation is not required to open the extension to Meadow Pointe Blvd.  Pasco County engineering is projecting a late July opening (weather permitting).  So, once again we have a date.

Steer clear of the SR 56 extension from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd.!

Exasperated over the delayed opening of SR 56 from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Boulevard? Tempted to hop on this unopened segment? Don't do it! The sheriff's department is pulling over folks driving on this portion of SR 56 and from what I hear can be less than nice about it! A friend of mine explained that he was recently pulled over for driving on this segment. The officer read him the riot act and threatened to haul him off to the hoosegow for trespassing. In the end, the officer was "nice" and just gave him a ticket for $160.00!

But guess what? It is not only drivers that should beware! Back in February, a reader wrote the following comment on this blog:

"Anyone tempted to drive, bicycle, or even walk down this still closed road should be aware that the Pasco Co. S.O. is harrassing anyone they find on it claiming that they are trespassing..."

So, I suggest that you steer clear of this "shortcut" until they officially open the road whether you are operating a motor vehicle, bicycling, or even walking! (They now say it should be open in August, but we have learned long ago that dates mean nothing with this road)

TECO & Pasco reach agreement on utility relocation at SR 56 & BBD

After months of disagreement over who's responsible for the cost of utility relocation at the intersection of SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs, an agreement was approved in yesterday's Board of County Commissioners meeting. Work on the future massive intersection at SR 56 and BBD has been delayed due to a major disagreement over who was to pay the estimated $600,000 cost.

Previously, this future mega intersection was described as:   "the largest in the county and reported to be the second largest in the nation, with triple left turn lanes in each direction".  The intersection utilities relocation project could now be completed as early as August.

Wesley Chapel tidbits from last week....

Here are a few Wesley Chapel  tidbits that came up last week:

$33 million ----------------The amount of money in the state budget for Pasco - Hernando Community College this year to help with construction costs of the new Wesley Chapel campus adjacent to Wiregrass Ranch High School.  (Groundbreaking isn't expected until 2012.)

August 2010 ---------------The latest date for the newly assigned road builder for SR 56 extension to have the (previously delayed) Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd. segment opened.  (How many times has this extension been delayed over the years?)

New traffic light on SR 56 at Wiregrass Mall

Installation has begun on a new traffic light on SR 56 at the eastern entrance to the Shops at Wiregrass.  Additional traffic lights will be installed on SR 56 at Mansfield and at Meadow Pointe Blvd.

Wesley Chapel Road Projects Meeting Update

As expected, the Wesley Chapel road project meeting today at 5:30 p.m. was filled with interested residents and it was standing room only. I estimate a couple hundred people were in attendance!  Most of the meeting dealt with the newest project; the widening of SR 54.

Here are the highlights from the meeting.  They were kind enough to provide us with a handout on SR 54 but not on the other road projects.

I-75 overpass bridge & CR 54:

Work on the I-75 bridge will provide for 9 lanes under the bridge; six through lanes and 3 turn lanes.  Work expected to be complete the end of 2010.  Also, the I-75 bridge work to accommodate future six lanes on the interstate even though there currently is no funding in place for widening I-75 to six lanes at SR 54.

SR 54 from I-75 to Curley Road: 

Work to consist of widening the current two lane undivided road to six lanes divided with turn lanes.  The first six months will consist of private utility relocation.  Then construction will begin and should take an additional 15 months.  Estimated construction cost = $28 million with an estimated project completion of January 2012.  The speed limit during construction will be reduced to 35 MPH.  (I wonder how often you can go over 35 MPH now on this portion of SR 54!)  Pasco County Engineering Services Director, James Widman pledged public update meeting every three months or so, media releases during construction, and additional periodic updates e-mailed to those requesting updates from the county.
Some additional work will be done on CR 54 from Old Pasco Road to I-75 and will be completed in 6-9 months.

I-75 to Saddlebrook:  The east bound lanes will be built on the south side of the existing roadway.  (Note, you will notice a difference in elevation on the new road as the "footprint" will be raised about 2 feet and as much as 5 feet in some sections.)

Saddlebrook east to Curley Road:  Westbound lanes will be built on the north side of the existing roadway.  Also, Boyette Road will be rerouted to remove the "S" curve.

Other road projects:

SR 54 widening from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road: "Don't hold your breath for this one folks!" Plan is to go to six lanes from Curley to Meadow Pointe Blvd., and then to four from M. Pointe Blvd. to Morris Bridge Raod. Start acquiring right of way in 2013/2014? No funding for right of way! Construction maybe in 2018, but currently not funded.

SR 56 extension from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd.:  Lots of FRUSTRATION expressed over this repeatedly delayed extension.  Recently a new contractor was named.  Anticipate the opening of this portion of the extension in July; some say beginning; some say end of July, 2010.  Based on the numerous delays over the years on this extension, I think you can comfortably count on it being open this millenium!  (More on this to be addressed in the Bruce B. Downs widening below.)

Bruce B. Downs Widening: 

From SR 54 to SR 56: Six lane widening with an estimated completion--May 2010!  (I wonder if I heard that wrong!)

From SR 56 to County Line Road--There still remains an unresolved issue with TECO regarding the cost to move utilities at the planned mega intersection of SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs.  The situation between the county and TECO sounds ugly!  Attorneys, etc.  County Commissioner Mulieri expressed exasperation!  This unresolved issue has gone on for months and months.  The local media needs to jump on this and try to get to the bottom of this nonsense!

I-75/I-275 Northbound exit ramps to SR 56:  (Dedicated exits for each interstate)  Work is underway Expected completion--Summer 2011.

I-75 widening from Bruce B. Downs to SR 56 to six lanes :  Start:  Summer, 2011, Construction cost = $37 million.

I-75 widening to six lanes from SR 56 to SR 54:  Design, 45% complete.  No funding for right of way purchase or construction.

In the future, I wish that all speakers, (County & FDOT) would provide copies of their power point presentations.  A handout was provided for some of what was presented on SR 54, but not on the other road projects.  (Also, I thought it was very wise that they had law enforcement directing traffic into and out of the meeting site onto/from SR 54.  Someone was thinking ahead!)

I don't have any additional information from this meeting.  If you have additional questions or want other information not listed above, please contact Pasco County Engineering Services:  (727) 834-3604.  Regarding SR 54 widening, you can e-mail Project Manager, John Chiarelli at Jchiarelli@pascocountyfl.net.    Interstate road projects website:  http://www.mytbi.com/ .

Expect SR 56 extension from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd to open in June

So says Assistant County Administrator Parikh according to The Tampa Tribune today.  Additionally, the Trib reports that the builders of the SR 56 extension have requested a one year extension to finish the entire project including the massive intersection at BBD and SR 56.  Full story from the Tampa Tribune

The 3.0 +/- mile extension of SR 56 from BBD to Meadow Pointe Blvd. has been plagued with delays over the years!

Pasco tells road contractor to "hit the road"....

And now this.......SR 56 extension road contractor WDG gets the boot from Pasco County:  Link to Tampa Tribune article

SR 56 extension from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd. delayed AGAIN!

Lately I have been receiving an e-mail every two or three days from the readers of this blog,  inquiring about the status of the opening of SR 56 from Mansfield to Meadow Pointe Blvd.  (There have not been any recent updates on its opening in our local papers.)   Previously promised to open in November/December, then more lately in February, you may have noticed that work seems to have come to a standstill lately.  Well, you are right.  In an e-mail inquiry to the Pasco County Project Manager this morning about the status of the opening of the extension, I received the following response: 

"The project has stopped, the contractor has been removed due to non performance the Bonding Company has begun to coordinate the completion."

.....and this from County Commissioner Mulieri:  "We had to give a 70 day extension."

So there you go folks.  Delayed again!  (Sorry, that's all the info I have at this time.)

SR 56 extension is open! Finally!

The State Road 56 extension to Mansfield is now open.

Drivers will encounter a sea of traffic barrels along the stretch on SR 56 from The Shops at Wiregrass to Mansfield and should go slowly when approaching that intersection which has no traffic light, especially at night since there are no street lights:

Parents dropping off kids at John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High School will now have another route available to them, (new drop off directions for Wiregrass Ranch High School), and residents of much of Meadow Pointe will no longer need to take County Line Road to get to I-75 & I-275.

Of course, once SR 56 is opened up to Meadow Pointe Blvd. (November?), travel from the rest of Meadow Pointe and Country Walk to I-75 also will become a breeze!

Work on the Meadow Pointe Blvd. / SR 56 intersection has begun. See below: