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/ .

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.)

New I-75 / I-275 exit ramps to State Road 56

Traveling north on I-75 / I-275 you probably have noticed the tree clearance at the "wishbone" (apex).  Some major improvements recently have begun at this junction:

About the Project

The Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor is building new northbound exit ramps to State Road 56 (SR 56) from both Interstate 75 (I-75) and Interstate 275 (I-275).

• The I-275 northbound lanes will also be realigned within the I-75 / I-275 interchange.
• Northbound I-75 will be widened and resurfaced from the I-275 interchange to SR 56.
• Two bridges will be constructed:   A new northbound I-275 exit ramp to SR 56 will cross over I-75 and a bridge will be built across Cypress Creek for northbound I-75 traffic exiting to SR 56.

Improvement Highlights

• Traffic exiting northbound I-275 or I-75 to SR 56 will be separated from mainline traffic to eliminate the need for lane changes.
• Better drainage and lighting in this area.

The construction phasing is designed so that all existing lanes of traffic will be maintained on I-75, I-275, and the ramps during peak traffic hours.

In order to maintain the construction schedule and to minimize the impact to the public, it is necessary for the contractor to also work at night. Lane closures, traffic shifts, and traffic paces will be necessary during different phases of the project.

Project Limits: from I-275/I-75 interchange to State Road 56

Project Length: 2.3 miles

Estimated Construction Cost: $29.9 million

Start Date: October 17, 2009

Estimated Completion Date: Summer 2012

Thanks to a reader of this blog who provided the following link to a video simulation of I-75 improvements from Fowler north to SR 52.  Also note that the BBD flyover ramp has been completed since the making of the video.  LINK TO VIDEO SIMULATION

Another traffic light goes up on Bruce B. Downs

Another traffic light is going up on BBD at Williamsburg Dr. This is only about a mile or so north of a traffic light that was recently installed just south of County Line Road at the entrance to The Cypress (LA Fitness and Sweetbay). It's great that they are finally widening BBD from SR 54 southward, but it sure is going to be a lot of "stop and go" if they keep adding lights!

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: