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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Curley Road

Borrow pit approved, despite neighbors’ objections

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request to allow 500,000 cubic yards of dirt to be excavated from a site on the south side of Tyndall road, about three-quarters of a mile west of the intersection Tyndall and Curley roads, in Wesley Chapel.

The permit and conditional use request were approved unanimously by the Pasco County Commission on June 2, despite concerns raised by area residents.

Based on the board’s action, the applicant can excavate and export dirt from about 30 acres of an overall site of 59 acres.

County staff found the request consistent with the county’s land development code — contingent on 31 conditions for approval.

Joel Tew, an attorney representing the applicant Sandhills Flats LLC, said the conditions required by the county staff are standard for this type of operation.

“We did not negotiate or quibble with any of those.”

“The property owners commit to make sure the pit operator complies with them. I intend to attach those conditions to the contract of the pit operator so that they have no choice but to comply,” Tew said.

The pit operator will be required to comply with noise-level limits, operating hours and other county conditions, Tew said.

“We have specific requirements for Tyndall Road maintenance. We have to post a maintenance bond with the county to ensure that our operator complies with those maintenance requirements of Tyndall Road.

“We have to maintain access conditions to all adjacent properties,” he said.

He also noted that more than three-fourths of the way from Tyndall Road out to Curley Road, there are no residences on either side.

Signage will be required, no stacking of trucks will be allowed on Tyndall and no trucks will go west on Tyndall from the site,  Tew said.

He also noted: “Due to the Connected City’s approvals, which you are aware of, there is already a requirement for Tyndall Road to be permanently improved to county standard, that is already in the construction plan review process by Metro, related to the Epperson CC (Connected City) MPUD (master planned unit development).”

Although the permit allows two years of operations, Tew said the hope is that dirt will be excavated and exported within a few months.

“You can’t develop those Connected City properties and VOPH (Villages of Pasadena Hills) without fill dirt,” Tew said.

But, neighbors living west of the site raised objections.

Mark Stober, who has lived on Tyndall Road for about 12 years, said the road cannot handle the heavy truck traffic.

“Tyndall, as a completely unimproved dirt road, already turns into an absolute mud pit during heavy rains, which we inevitably experience every year, and that’s without heavy trucks,” he said.

“There’s no way the company would be able to maintain that road during that period unless they substantially improve the road by either paving it or laying down a considerable amount of lime rock or stone to elevate the roadbed,” he added.

Instead of merely maintaining the road, the applicant should be required to improve it, Stober said.

Christopher Abati, also opposes the borrow pit.

“I have lived on Tyndall Road for 24 years, in peace and quiet,” he said, via email. “I do not want the borrow pit for our neighborhood.”

Abati added: “Our quality of life here is in jeopardy.”

Ernest Black, who also lives on Tyndall Road, asked, via email, whether the project would affect the area’s water table.

“This just seems like a bad idea for all of us living here,” he added.

Commissioner Ron Oakley, noting the county had placed “very good restrictions” on the project, made a motion for approval, which passed unanimously.

Published June 10, 2020

New East Pasco school gets a name

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A new high school that will focus on technology, STEM and business programs on the east side of Pasco County will be called the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The Pasco County School Board approved that name unanimously during the board’s Feb. 18 meeting.

The school is located at Curley Road and Keifer Road in Wesley Chapel on the former Kirkland Ranch property.

Program plans for the school include academies for Business, Finance & Marketing; Digital Technology; Engineering Technology; Health Science & Human Services; Transportation Technology; and Building Technology, according to Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page.

The school will serve grades nine through 12 and offer industry certification in high-demand career fields with a focus on technology, STEM, and business, the Facebook page adds.

The name Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation encompasses both the area where it will operate, and in general, to the school’s mission.

Board members received about 100 suggested names for the school.

Board member Alison Crumbley said there were so many fine people on the list that she couldn’t narrow it down to just one.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said the name — Academy of Innovation — is broad enough to cover the ever-evolving direction of career and technical education.

“As we know, CTE is changing daily,” Armstrong said.

The new school is slated to open in August 2022.

Published February 26, 2020

Charter school coming to Connected City’s Epperson

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A K-8 charter school could open as early as this fall in Epperson, if all goes according to plan.

The Pasco County School Board has approved an agreement with Metro Apple LLC and Red Apple Development LLC — known collectively as the developer — for a charter school that is planned on the east side of Curley Road.

Details regarding the school are spelled out in the agreement.

Plans call for a two-story school of approximately 55,000 square feet, that will be built on a site of about 8 acres to 10 acres.

The charter school will have a capacity of 765 students.

The proposed concept for the school is based on the acronym of W.I.S.H., which stands for Wellness, Innovation, Science and Health.

The aim is to open the school for the 2020 school year.

The charter school will be built to the state standards, certified by a third-party architect. It will not include any hurricane shelter requirements.

Once construction is completed and students are enrolled, the entity that paid for the design, permitting and construction of the school shall be entitled to school impact fee credits, for the land and facility portion of the impact fee only.

The maximum amount of any fee credits and the cash reimbursement for all design, construction and land costs shall be $18.2 million. Land value for fee credits or cash reimbursements shall be based on a fair market value appraisal obtained by the developer.

Published January 22, 2020

Improvements continue on State Road 54 in East Pasco

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A project to widen a stretch of State Road 54 in East Pasco, and to improve the road’s intersection with Eiland Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road, is making progress.

The improvement calls for two left-turn lanes on State Road 54 onto Eiland Boulevard and two through lanes heading east.

A right-turn lane, also heading eastbound, will be incorporated on the state road, turning onto Morris Bridge Road.

State Road 54 is being widened, and intersection improvements are being made at the road’s intersection with Eiland Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road. The improvements aim to ease the flow of traffic on the busy road. (Brian Fernandes)

Heading west, State Road 54 will have one left-turn lane going onto Morris Bridge Road, a right-turn lane onto Eiland Boulevard, and two through lanes.

Also, at the intersection, a bicycle lane will run along the state road’s north and south ends, respectively.

In addition, a shared-use path will be implemented on the south end, with a sidewalk running along the north end.

Eiland Boulevard turns into Morris Bridge Road once is passes the intersection  with State Road 54, and heads south.

Motorists heading north on Morris Bridge Road will have two left-turn lanes onto State Road 54.

There also will be two through lanes, including one that can be used to go straight or turn right.

Eiland Boulevard heading south will have the same setup, except that it will have a right-turn lane in addition to two through lanes.

There will be a shared-use path on the west side of Eiland Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road, and a sidewalk on the east side.

There haven’t been any lane closures yet, but in the future this could occur for three to four weeks, according to Brendan Fitterer of Pasco County.

This comes as efforts continue to widen State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

The 4.5-mile widening begins east of Curley Road and ends east of Morris Bridge Road. It involves widening the road from two lanes to four lanes, with a divided median.

The project is being done in phases, with the lanes at the north end — heading west — being completed first. Then the lanes on the south end — heading east — will be done, and then the divided median.

When the two westbound lanes have been paved and striped, opposing traffic will occupy these lanes, while the eastbound lanes are built, said David Botello of the Florida Department of Transportation.

This will occur over the span of six months, he said. Ninety-five percent of the utility pipe installation has been completed.

Botello added that: “We have over half of the new drainage installed and are working on constructing the new westbound lanes on the north side of the corridor, while traffic is temporarily shifted to the south in several locations throughout the project.”

The project also incorporates a sidewalk on the north side of the road and a multi-purpose trail on the south side.

Lane closures have occurred, but future closures have not been announced yet.

The intersection with Eiland Boulevard/Morris Bridge Road is a $3.8 million-project and is expected to be completed in June 2021.

The state road’s widening is a $42.5 million-project, with completion set for mid-2021.

Published November 13, 2019

Zephyrhills economic summit highlights industrial hub

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It may now be famous for its crystal clear water and skydiving but, someday, the City of Zephyrhills also wants to be known for its industrial offerings and high-wage jobs.

The third annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit, held earlier this month, focused on the need to maximize both the use of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport and the development potential of adjacent industrial property.

The event, at Zephyrhills City Hall, was presented by the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition (ZEDC) in partnership with the City of Zephyrhills and Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

The third annual Zephyrhills Economic Summit focused on the importance of developing an industrial corridor and cultivating high-wage jobs. Shown here speaking is Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg. (Kevin Weiss)

City officials are developing a 20-year master plan known as the Zephyrhills Industrial Corridor Plan.

The proposed industrial development hub encompasses approximately 9.76 square miles (6,248 acres) of land in the southeast portion of the city, around the Chancey Road corridor and municipal airport.

Roughly a third of the property is within city limits and the remainder in unincorporated Pasco County — representing the largest aggregation of industrial lands in the county.

Within that area is 442 divisible acres of what’s known as the Zephyrhills Airport Industrial Park, a build-ready site equipped with water, sewer and electric utilities, and accessible to natural gas.

While the corridor is still in preliminary stages, it ultimately will set the city up for long-term growth and economic sustainability, said Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg.

Possible targeted industries could include aerospace, aviation and defense; advanced manufacturing; light manufacturing; electronics and technology; logistics and distribution; life sciences and medical technology; telecom/data hosting centers; research and development; showroom; refrigeration/cold storage and other uses.

Vande Berg explained a built-out industrial corridor will yield more revenues for the city and create a better jobs-to-housing balance. He also noted industrial manufacturing uses less services — police, fire, water, sewer— compared to, say, residential or commercial land use.

All that, he said, will ultimately “raise the bar in quality of life” for Zephyrhills residents, allowing funds to be steered toward downtown redevelopment, recreational amenities and other community uses.

“We want to be economically diverse. We don’t just want to have family residential, we want to have a mix of uses,” Vande Berg said.

“If we bring in industrial, we’re going to be more fiscally solvent, and that ties in with being resilient. If we have the industrial there, we feel like we’re in a better position with the city.”

The city planner expressed confidence the corridor’s utility offerings and centralized proximity to Orlando, Lakeland and Tampa makes it an attractive spot for companies looking to relocate or set up shop.

“We’ve got a great location we feel like,” he said. “We have such an asset out there in the southeast quadrant of the city.”

The entire planning area is generally bound by Melrose Avenue to the north, the CSX Transportation railroad and U.S. 301 to the west, Pattie Road to the south, and Barry Road and the Upper Hillsborough Wildlife Management Area to the east.

Two CSX mainline railroads traverse the area and it is accessible to Port Tampa Bay and the CSX Central Florida Intermodal Logistics Center.

The local airport also is undergoing a $5.9 million runway extension and roadway improvements to accommodate larger commercial aircraft, and encourage aviation and industrial development.

Moving forward, Vande Berg said ongoing collaboration is vital between the city, county and state officials to have a coordinated plan on zoning and land use, and “to continue to improve transportation accessibility to this industrial corridor.”

He mentioned a more near-term priority is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to extend State Road 56 east of U.S. 301 to connect to Chancey Road. “Transportation’s huge, like anywhere,” he said.

Aside from transportation and infrastructure boosts to draw companies in, other speakers said the city needs more workforce development programs to develop skilled labor employees and then keep them in the area.

It’s already something holding back existing industrial businesses in the city, said Dr. Randy Stovall, president of the Zephyrhills chamber.

“They can’t find those people they want to hire,” Stovall said. “They want to hire them, but there’s not enough of them, so that is a challenge. We’ve had that (issue) for some time.”

Tom Ryan, economic development manager for Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.,  said having training programs and a baseline of skilled labor in place is “a huge component” for luring large companies to a particular area.

“We’ve got to have (workforce) inventory,” Ryan said. “We’ve got to have a plan to tell those companies, ‘Look, we want your jobs here, and we have a plan to help you bring those jobs here.’”

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley pointed out that Zephyrhills and the East Pasco area are working to position the area to do just that.

Pasco County Schools plans to build a technical high school by 2022 near the intersection of Curley Road and Kiefer Road in Wesley Chapel that will hold nearly 900 students.

Meanwhile, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) plans to construct a 4,000-square-foot facility for AmSkills to teach manufacturing jobs.

Also, local business owner Kevin Bahr of Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C is starting a teaching school to train propane service and HVAC technicians.

“The county is working very hard for jobs,” Oakley said. “Our county’s growing. We need jobs, and we need to teach them (the necessary skills).”

Elsewhere during the summit, State Rep. Randy Maggard commended Zephyrhills “for thinking ahead of schedule” in regards to its future and planned industrial hub.

Maggard, a Republican representing District 38, specifically applauded city leaders for this year putting a $2 million septic to sewer project at the top of their state appropriations request list.

The project includes decommissioning existing septic tanks to a residential subdivision and homes along Sixth Avenue and Armstrong Street, with potential for sewer expansion to additional properties in the future.

The project aims to prevent springs from dying because of nitrates from septic tanks.

“At the end of the day, if we don’t have water, none of this matters,” Maggard said. “We can talk about infrastructure, we can talk about a lot of things, but if we can’t provide water, it doesn’t matter at all.”

The elected official also gave this piece of advice for the city going forward: “You need to tell us where you want to go, and we need to help you get there in the long-term planning, funding, whatever it takes for us to be able to do that.”

Other summit speakers included Mohsen Mohammadi, chief operations officer for American Infrastructure Development; David Gwynn, District 7 secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT); and Danielle Ruiz, economic development manager for Duke Energy.

Published October 23, 2019

Pasco embarks on new type of high school

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The Pasco County school district is planning a new magnet high school that doesn’t fit the traditional mold.

It will combine a rigorous curriculum along with technical skills training — and will seek community partnerships to give students real-world experiences, said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

Coming up with a name for the school is a little bit tricky, Gadd said.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, talks about a new high school the district plans to open in 2022 that will combine opportunities for mastering academics and technical skills. (B.C. Manion)

The idea is to prepare students to have many options when they leave high school — whether, say, they want to work as a welder for someone else; or, they want to have their own welding business.

While the district invites public suggestions to help it come up with a name for the school, it is proceeding with the school’s design.

The magnet school will be built at Curley and Keifer roads, in Wesley Chapel, on the former Kirkland Ranch property. The school is being built to accommodate 900 students, but is designed for expansion, if there’s a larger demand.

Students are expected to come primarily come from Zephyrhills, Wiregrass Ranch, Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel and Pasco high schools, but also might come from as far away as Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes high schools.

The planned opening date is fall of 2022, and the school may begin operations with just a freshman class, or perhaps freshman and sophomore classes, Gadd said.

The district wants to give the school some time to develop its own community and to build its brand, he explained.

As time goes on, the school wants to become increasingly involved in the community and for the community to be increasingly involved in the school, the deputy superintendent said.

For instance, the district also has begun having conversations with people who have various types of expertise.

Sometimes those conversations may yield helpful suggestions for refining the curriculum; other times, they may lead to partnerships that support programs, or provide real-world opportunities for students, Gadd said.

The leadership at this school will likely be different, too. Rather than a principal and assistant principal, it’s likely to have leaders who spend part of their time on campus and part of their time out in the community, he said.

The interactions that can result can yield many new opportunities, he explained.

Program plans for the school include academies for business, finance and marketing; digital technology; engineering technology; health science and human services; transportation technology; and, building technology. The school will serve grades nine through 12, and will offer industry certification in high-demand career fields.

There also will be post-secondary education programs offered after-hours, Gadd said.

The deputy superintendent said the new school will be a departure from tradition, but he said he thinks that is what parents want for their children.

“I’m a big advocate in not building the same old high schools, the same old middle schools and the same old elementary schools. I’d like to see that campus someday represent the market, so to speak.

“Parents are asking us for something other than the traditional cookie-cutter school,” he said.

Have an idea for this school’s name?
Pasco County School Board policy encourages community members, educators and students to provide suggestions for school names. The board has the final say. Suggested names should be accompanied by a brief explanation. Email submissions to , with the subject line “school name,” or fax them to (813) 794-2716.

Understanding Gen Z*

  • Have never known a non-digital world
  • Make up 32 percent of the 7.7 billion global population
  • Use Smartphones 15.4 hours a week
  • Respond best to short, visual marketing strategies

Understanding the job market

  • 47 percent of current middle-class jobs in the United States are at risk of being replaced by automation over the next 20 years
  • 85 percent of the jobs that will exist in 2030 have not yet been invented

Sharing the school’s goals

  • Prepare students for success
  • Enhance the high school experience
  • Inspire innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Simulate real-world experiences
  • Foster mentorship and community connections

*Gen Z are those born in 1995 or later

Source: HepnerArchitects/CanonDesign

Published July 24, 2019

Public input sought on naming new Pasco high school

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Pasco County Schools is seeking the public’s help in suggesting names for a new high school that will be focused on technology and business programs, and is set to open in August of 2022 in East Pasco.

The school will be located at Curley Road and Keifer Road in Wesley Chapel on the former Kirkland Ranch property, according to a news release from the Pasco school district.

Program plans for the school include academies for business, finance and marketing; digital technology; engineering technology; health science and human services; transportation technology; and building technology.

The school will serve grades nine through 12, and will offer industry certification in high-demand career fields.

School Board policy encourages community members, educators and students to provide suggestions for school names.

The board will have the final say on the school’s name, and once adopted, the name will be considered permanent unless the facility or its use changes, the news release adds.

Suggested names should be accompanied by a brief explanation. Submit individual name options by email to , with the subject line “school name.” Submissions also can be faxed to (813) 794-2716.

Published July 10, 2019

School district responds to Pasco’s booming growth

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As Pasco County’s rapid growth continues, the county school district is constructing a middle school, expanding existing locations, planning future facilities and acquiring new sites.

Earlier this month, the Pasco County School Board took initial steps to add a 10-classroom addition at Bexley Elementary School, 4380 Ballantrae Blvd., which just opened in 2017 in a subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

As the Bexley development continues to grow, Pasco County Schools are planning to add a 10-classroom addition to the school, which opened in 2017, to accommodate an additional 200 students. (Christine Holtzman)

The board also took action to move ahead on a 20-classroom expansion at Sunlake High School, at 3023 Sunlake Blvd., another Land O’ Lakes school feeling the squeeze from area growth.

The Bexley expansion will increase the school’s capacity by 200 students, bringing its total to 1,106; Sunlake’s capacity will increase by 400, bringing it to 2,041.

Both wings should be open for the 2020-21 school year.

Not far away, the district is wrapping up a $29 million makeover at Land O’ Lakes High School, at 20325 Gator Lane, in Land O’ Lakes. The project is expected to boost capacity by 500 students.

The district also plans to build a K-8 school in the Starkey Ranch development, off State Road 54, another Central Pasco school. That three-story school is expected to open in 2021.

The middle school portion will have a capacity of 1,200, while the elementary school will house 800.

Sunlake High School has been feeling the squeeze from new growth. (B.C. Manion)

Other projects are underway or in the plans in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and other parts of East Pasco County.

Cypress Creek Middle School, on Overpass Road south of State Road 52, is under construction. The school is scheduled to open in the fall of 2020.

The new school is being built on the campus, which has been serving students in grades six through 12. It is expected to have a capacity of 1,600 students, making it the district’s largest middle school.

The district initially had intended to open a high school and a middle school on the site, but fell short of funds, so opened the high school building and split the facilities between a middle school and a high school.

When the middle school opens, boundary changes will be needed to fill up the schools.

Bexley Elementary is just one of the schools in Pasco County that is experiencing enrollment growth, as surrounding areas continue to gain population. (B.C. Manion)

Superintendent Kurt Browning told the board at its June 4 meeting that parents were notified by telephone before the end of the school year that they may be affected by a pending rezoning, Browning said.

“We will be doing a lot of address verification work over the summer, in those affected areas. “And then, we will begin late summer putting maps together and really amping up that process,” Browning said.

Meanwhile, a $33 million renovation is underway at Zephyrhills High School. In addition to significant upgrades, the school will boost its capacity by 500 students.

The district is planning a technical school in East Pasco, which is expected to open in 2022 and will affect high school enrollments on the east side of the county.

Beyond that, work continues to secure future school sites.

This new development is going up catty-corner from Sunlake High School, which will be adding a 20-classroom wing, to increase its capacity by 400.

At its recent meeting, the board approved moving forward toward acquisition of 65 acres on the north side of proposed State Road 52, one-half mile east of Curley Road, south of St. Leo, on what is known as the Merrymeeting site. The purchase price is $25,000 an acre.

The district previously approved acquisition of 104 acres near the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel, on a site at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, directly across the street from future phases of Epperson Ranch, and just south of the future Mirada development.

That acreage potentially will be used to house a future high school and/or a future kindergarten through eighth grade campus. The full sales price was slightly more than $2 million.

The district also has acquired land on Handcart Road, with the bulk of the acreage purchased for $28,500 per acre in 2008 and some additional acreage purchased in 2010, at $15,455 per acre.

Published June 19, 2019

Meritage Homes’ Ashcroft Offers Affordable Homes In Watergrass

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Join the fun Saturday, June 8, when Meritage Homes celebrates the grand opening of its newest community in Tampa — Ashcroft at Watergrass.

Located off Curley Road in highly desired Wesley Chapel, Ashcroft is a community of 120 homesites, with move-in ready homes for families looking to get settled in before the next school year begins.

Meritage Homes’ model in Ashcroft at Watergrass is the Willow, which features the master suite conveniently located on the first floor, three bedrooms, bath and large loft on the second level.

“We have six very livable plans to choose from, all with the latest built-in trends with money-saving, energy-efficient designs,” said Steve Harding, division president of Meritage Homes.

Home pricing starts in the low $230s. Living areas range from 1,492 to 2,452 square feet.

“Our buyers are looking at monthly payments as low as $1,654, which makes Ashcroft one of the most affordable new communities in Wesley Chapel,” said Harding.

The grand opening event on June 8 is from noon to 3 p.m., and includes lunch, refreshments, and home tours of its beautifully furnished Willow model. Buyers will have the opportunity to take advantage of grand opening pricing.

“We are exciting to be launching this new community, and offering families the latest in new construction at affordable prices,” said Harding. “Ashcroft is already attracting first-time homebuyers and families that are downsizing.”

The Willow model is one of Meritage Homes’ most popular plans. This two-story home is 2,082 square feet, with its master suite conveniently located on the first floor. Its open floor plan features a kitchen with a spacious work island overlooking the great room, a distinct dining area and large covered lanai. Upstairs are three additional bedrooms and shared bath, plus a large loft perfect for youngsters to play, study or watch television.

Ashcroft currently has move-in ready homes available like the Willow plan, along with other homes that will be ready as soon as early June.

In addition to affordable housing and fabulous amenities, families are choosing Ashcroft because its youngsters are zoned to some of Pasco County’s best schools. Kids can bike to Watergrass Elementary located inside the community, and Thomas E. Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel High School are just 1 mile away.

Ashcroft is located in Watergrass’ recently opened Phase III in the eastern section of the community, which will showcase the Promenade Park amenity center with its splash park, resort-style pool, elaborate playground, and dog parks for large and small dogs. Promenade Park is currently being built and is expected to open next spring.

Ashcroft residents also can enjoy existing Watergrass amenities, including a resort pool with splash zone, Jr. Olympic pool, fitness center with adjoining children’s playroom, social gathering rooms, recreational field, covered playground, and tennis and half basketball court.

Watergrass is situated on almost 1,000 acres, of which 250 are preserved wetlands, woods, parks and playgrounds. Its location offers easy access to I-75 and downtown Tampa, and is just 10 minutes from the heart of Wesley Chapel’s dining and shopping district.

Meritage Homes is the seventh-largest public homebuilder in the U.S., with a focus on first-time and first move-up buyers. It has designed and built over 120,000 homes in its 33-year history and has a reputation for its cost-saving energy-efficient features, distinctive style, quality construction and positive customer experience.

Meritage is the industry leader in energy-efficient homebuilding, and has received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence Award for the seventh consecutive year – for innovation and industry leadership in energy-efficient homebuilding.

For more information, please visit us online at MeritageHomes.com, or call (877) ASK-MERITAGE.

Ashcroft at Watergrass

  • 120 total lots
  • 11 move-in ready homes
  • 40’ x 120’ homesites
  • Furnished model home (Willow Plan)
  • 6 floor plans to choose from
  • Square footage 1,492 to 2,452
  • Pricing starts from the $230s
  • Zoned for excellent schools

Published May 29, 2019

Old State Road 54 widening will ease East Pasco congestion

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Work is underway to widen Old State Road 54, from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills, from a two-lane road to four lanes.

The 4.5-mile widening, which started in November 2017, will ease congestion between Curley and Morris Bridge roads.

The project will create a more consistent flow of traffic, as Old State Road 54 is a six-lane road, west of Curley Road.

Efforts to expand a portion of Old State Road 54 from Wesley Chapel into Zephyrhills, can be seen from this aerial view. What is now a two-lane road, will become four lanes – east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

“You have multiple lanes, multiple directions to the west,” said Zach Stringer, project administrator for the Florida Department of Transportation. “Where it’s previously reduced down to two lanes, that’s where we’re continuing multi-lanes with divided medians.”

Stringer added that the expansion will also accommodate increased traffic on Morris Bridge Road with the extension of State Road 56, which is another project that is also underway now.

The construction on Old State Road 54 will first prioritize the completion of two south-end lanes heading eastbound, two north-end lanes heading westbound and then incorporating a median in between.

The median will offer several openings to allow motorists to make necessary turns.

In addition, a north-end sidewalk and a 10-foot-wide multipurpose trail on the south end, will be built along the project’s entire stretch on Old State Road 54.

The project administrator said currently “we’re doing Phase 1A, which is constructing temporary asphalt to the south and short portions of temporary asphalt to the north for drainage crossovers.”

Short-term asphalt placement allows space for traffic diversion.

With additional space, workers can install and connect drainage pipelines from the north end to the south end of Old State Road 54.

The second phase is also in the works, as well, Stringer said.

On the evening of March 19, eastbound and westbound traffic was shifted further south to construct the two-lane expansion of the north end.

Future lane closures will be scheduled at nights and early mornings to avoid conflicting with heavy traffic hours.

The closures on open stretches of road will be from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., while those at signalized intersections will be between 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

The $42.5-million development is slated for completion during the summer of 2021.

Published April 03, 2019