Traffic is a mess at the Interstate 75 interchange with State Road 56.
On the plus side, that’s an indicator that new development in the area is boosting Pasco County’s economy.
More of that development is on the way.
But, it’s putting more people and more vehicles on inadequate roads.
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A project set to start in 2018 is expected to help reduce the traffic snarls at the I-75/State Road 56 interchange.
“There are huge amounts of traffic being generated,” said Ryan Forrestel, principal at American Consulting Engineers.
A traffic analysis found that during daily rush hours, vehicles are backed up for 1 mile to 2½ miles.
Most motorists are waiting at traffic signals to make left turns onto I-75, or off of it.
During a May 23 session, Forrestel provided a timeline for the construction of a $24.1 million diverging diamond interchange that is expected to relieve traffic.
He made his remarks to a gathering of about 30 people, at an event hosted by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at the Mercedes-Benz automobile dealership, off State Road 56.
The meeting was focused on providing information to owners and operators of area businesses.
“We want to make sure they are well-prepared for what is coming,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s president.
The chamber’s website also will provide up-to-date information on the project as it becomes available.
The project, which at one time had a 2020 start date, now has a construction start date of fall 2018.
Design and planning are expected to be finished by January 2018, and construction bids are scheduled to go out in June 2018.
The project’s construction is expected to take 18 months to 36 months.
Pasco County’s diverging diamond will be Florida’s second.
Two weeks ago, Sarasota became the first to open a diverging diamond on I-75, at University Parkway.
Licia Tavalaiccio plans a visit to see her daughter who lives in Sarasota. While she’s there, she wants a first-hand experience of test driving a diverging diamond interchange.
“I’m excited to go down there and see how it actually flows,” she said.
Being informed about the interchange is also a necessity for the Realtor who works with clients looking to invest in Pasco County property and new businesses. “When they are coming into our area, traffic is going to affect their decisions to purchase in the area,” Tavalaiccio said.
The diverging diamond interchange accommodates multiple lanes of traffic that crisscross from one side to another, with limited traffic signals. Road signs and marked off lanes help direct motorists through the interchange.
Forrestel said no additional right of way will be needed for construction.
The bridge that crosses I-75 won’t be widened, he said, but it will be redesigned to handle traffic coming to and from the I-75 ramps.
Additional lanes will be added to the ramps along with road signs and lane markers. Speed limits will drop to 35 mph on the approach to the interchange.
With fewer traffic signals, Forrestel said, “All turns are free flowing, to the right or to the left.”
In fact, he added, the diverging diamond works best where signalized left-turns dominate. “In other places, they are terrible solutions.”
Supporters of the design say it eases congestion, prevents wrong-way entry onto ramps and reduces crashes.
No daytime lane closures are planned. However, lanes will be shifted to accommodate construction, said Forrestel.
There will be some lane closures at night, he added.
The first phase of construction likely will be the installation of retaining walls surrounding the interchange. They will vary in height from 5 feet to 30 feet.
The completion of construction can’t come soon enough for area business owners.
Britt Young, franchise owner of Chick-fil-A, which fronts State Road 56 by Tampa Premium Outlets, said even employees who live nearby report 20-minute commutes simply to get across I-75.
He hopes the diverging diamond is the right solution.
“We need the flow of traffic to move,” Young said. “It allows for growth on both sides of the interstate. Economically, it’s what we all want.”
Published May 31, 2017
