By Kyle LoJacono
The stalled and long awaited extension to Collier Parkway began to move forward when the Pasco County Commission approved a contract with a replacement contractor.
Ripa & Associates was picked to complete the project that has been in limbo since the county fired WDG Construction from the job in February. The job was about 40 percent complete at that time.
The company resumed work on the road this week and is scheduled for completion in less than 200 days, according to Chris Laface, Ripa’s executive vice president.
“The project still has a long way to go,” Laface said. “We should be finished by March or April of next year.”
The project was first scheduled for completion in May. The original contract with WDG was for $4.3 million to extend Collier from where it stops a Hale Road 1.8 miles north to connect with Parkway Boulevard.
A future project will further extend Collier to connect with Ehren Cutoff, but Deborah Bolduc, program administrator for Pasco’s engineering services, said it will not be planned until 2013 or 2014 and will not be completed until at least 2015 or 2016.
WDG stopped work on the project in part because it lost some of its insurance coverage. About $2.5 million remains on the contract. Any additional cost to complete the job will be paid for by the bonding company that insured the work.
Pasco Chief Project Manager Robert Shepherd said whenever a project costs more than what was in the original contract the surety company has to pay the additional expenses. He said this protects the tax payers from having to pick up the bill down the road.
“Our attorney has to be commended for the work on this contract,” said Pasco Commission Chairwoman Pat Mulieri. “This road has a history. Originally it was to go behind the houses that face on Shinning Star Drive.
“The original alignment was a problem as the residents would have been sandwiched between two roads,” Mulieri continued. “I brought staff out to the area, met with residents and convinced staff a new alignment was needed. It will give residents a straight road to Parkway and will take buses off of Shinning Star.”
Mulieri added the road was to relieve traffic flow problems on US 41 and Parkway. It will also allow school buses an easier route getting students to and from Pine View Elementary and Pine View Middle schools located on Parkway.
Several neighborhoods, including Alto Acres, Oak Villa and Braesgate At Sable Ridge, are along Collier and zoned for both schools, according to current school boundary maps on the Pasco schools’ website.
The more direct route provided by the Collier extension will likely reduce the time and money for gas from bus routes next school year. Pasco schools spokeswoman Summer Romagnoli said bus routes are not planned until a road is completed and then only during the summer before the school year.
“The road will allow ease of traffic for people in the area,” Mulieri said. “It’s been a long time coming, but soon people will be able to take advantage of the new road.”
Collier Parkway extension
Cost: $2.5 million remaining
Length: 1.8 miles north to Parkway Boulevard
Completion date: March or April 2011
Company completing: Ripa & Associates
