Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel was set to resume on Sept. 13, according to officials from the Florida Department of Transportation.
That news was part of an update released by Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’S District 7 office.
Work was halted in June, when D.A.B. Constructors notified FDOT that it was demobilizing from the project. The state transportation department then defaulted D.A.B., on July 1.
D.A.B. Contractors had seven projects in FDOT District 7, including three in Pasco County. After D.A.B. was defaulted on the diverging diamond project, it self-defaulted on the other Pasco projects, which are on State Road 52 and State Road 54.
The surety company must now complete those projects.
Carson provided a Sept. 10 update regarding the status of the projects.
Diverging Diamond
The completion contract has been executed by Superior Construction and is with the surety for final signatures.
Superior Construction has been given a Notice to Proceed from the surety, and contract work is expected to recommence on Sept. 13.
Surveyors have been onsite gathering survey information to support the proposed Sept. 13 start date.
The interim maintenance contractor (DBI) performed mowing in the two ponds on the south side of State Road 56. Slope mowing was completed on the northeast quadrant adjacent to the northbound Interstate 75 on-ramp.
Slope mowing is currently underway on the interior slopes of the southbound on- and off-ramps.
A project-wide litter pickup cycle was completed.
State Road 52, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41
The surety received bids from prospective completion contractors on Sept. 9, and the bids are being evaluated.
The FDOT performed pothole and silt fence repairs, to address urgent needs.
An upcoming mowing cycle is planned to start in two weeks.
State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
The surety put out an advertisement for bids on Sept. 9, with bids expected to be received the week of Sept. 23.
The FDOT’s maintenance crews have repaired potholes throughout the project and at the following side streets and driveways: McDonald’s driveway, Lado Drive, Loury Drive, Ashton Oaks Boulevard and Foxwood Boulevard.
Drop-offs have been addressed project-wide by inspection staff and maintenance crews.
The FDOT’s asphalt maintenance contractor is schedule to pave the previously listed side streets and driveways beginning Sept. 16.
Traffic markings maintenance has been completed at Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 54.
Concrete barriers were adjusted at New River Road and State Road 54 and the Morris Bridge Road intersection, in front of CVS.
Emerald Striping is being scheduled to install flashing beacon ‘school ahead’ signs at New River Academy.
While the FDOT continues to address the state road projects that are behind schedule, State Sen. Danny Burgess told members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce that the state is seeing what it can do to streamline, in some way, the process of road contracting.
That way, if something like this happens again, the DOT would have additional options, such as going to with Bidder No. 2 on a project, he said.
“We’re going to look at some outside-the-box opportunities,” Burgess said.
Published September 15, 2021
