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Diverging Diamond

Pasco allocates funds for new central office design

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a task order with CPH Inc., for the design of a new central office and warehouse for its facilities management department.

The agreement, which calls for an amount not to exceed $339,920, is being made under a continuing professional services agreement with CPH, according to backup materials in the board’s Jan. 12 agenda packet.

The county’s facilities management department currently shares space inside Fire Station No. 22, on U.S. 41.

That fire station is scheduled to be replaced by a new facility on the Asbel Road extension, which is expected to be completed in August 2022.

The existing fire station will be demolished to allow future development of a Public Service Center for the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

The new facilities management office and warehouse will be built on the existing central Public Safety Campus to house facilities management personnel that provide services in the central zone of the county.

In Wesley Chapel, meanwhile, construction has begun on the Overpass Road interchange.

“That interchange will be open to traffic in the Summer of ’22. So that’s just around the corner,” County Administrator Dan Biles told commissioners during their Jan. 12 meeting.

“It actually may be open to traffic before the Diverging Diamond,” Biles said.

By closing Overpass Road during construction, the project will be accelerated by six months to nine months, Biles said.

In connection with the Overpass Road project, commissioners also adopted a resolution authorizing the rerouting of Blair Drive. The Overpass Road/I-75 Interchange Project requires Overpass Road at Blair Drive to be limited access for the safety of the public traveling on Blair Drive and on Overpass Road through the new interchange. To accommodate this requirement, an extension of Blair Drive is being constructed to connect to Old Pasco Road.

Blair Drive at Overpass Road will be closed and reconstructed as a cul-de-sac.

In another action, commissioners approved a state-funded grant agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation and Pasco County, relating to Lacoochee Industrial Area right of way improvements.

The project is aimed at supporting the creation of new jobs in Lacoochee using $5,469,395 approved by the Florida Legislature last year.

The funds will be distributed on a reimbursable basis.

The scope of work for this project consists of:

  • Reconditioning Bower Road from Cummer Road to State Road 575 (approximately 3,200 feet) through the use of full depth reclamation
  • Milling and resurfacing of Cummer Road from U.S. 301 to Bower Road (approximately 4,700 feet)
  • Adding a new right-turn lane on Cummer Road at U.S. 301
  • Providing driveway aprons, as needed and new signing and pavement markings
  • A new right-turn lane on SR 575 at Bower Road, new signing and pavement markings, and preparation of maintained right of way maps, in coordination with FDOT, along Bower Road and SR 575.

To avoid construction delays, the design and permitting phase of the project was

expedited with local funds.

Funding, in the amount of $300,000, was approved through the Office of Economic Growth in the Spring of 2020, to start the design and permitting phase of the project.

The project scope was split into two segments for the purpose of design and permitting. Segment 1 affects county roads, while Segment 2 affects the state highway system.

The design of both segments is currently underway with design and permitting of

Segment 1 to be completed by January 2021, while Segment 2 will be completed by June 2021.

The agreement also notes that the design and permitting phase will not be reimbursed by FDOT because that work preceded the agreement, but the grant support services associated with the design — a separate task order — will be.

Published January 20, 2021

State road projects will ease congestion

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Orange traffic cones and road signs signaling “a new traffic pattern” are a common sight for motorists, especially those traveling Pasco County’s state highway grid.

Amid COVID-19 lockdowns and now hopefulness that a vaccine could mean a return to normalcy, roadwork in Pasco County never stopped. Construction crews cleared rights of way, smoothed out dirt, buried pipes, paved new traffic lanes, landscaped medians, added pedestrian and bicycle lanes, and realigned existing roadways to ease traffic congestion in one of Tampa Bay’s fastest-growing counties.

Several major road projects from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will be completed within the next four years. They include work on a new diverging diamond interchange at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, as well as projects on State Road 54 and State Road 52.

The construction schedules haven’t always met expectations.

Pasco County commissioners recently expressed displeasure with the slower than anticipated pace of project completions, especially on the diverging diamond. Pasco officials pushed to get the project started early, hoping for a spring 2021 completion. Instead, the schedule promises a summer 2022 end date, according to FDOT officials.

The new interchange is an entry and exit off I-75 onto State Road 56 where commercial and residential development is bringing new retail, hotels and residents to the area. Among the destinations are Cypress Creek Town Center, Tampa Premium Outlets and AdventHealth Center Ice.

The first completed road project is expected in late 2021 when work ends on the widening of State Road 54 east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road. The last project through the pipeline will be the widening and realignment of State Road 52 in summer 2024.

Here is a list of some major state road projects currently under construction in Pasco County:

Workers from Sodmore LLC, of O’ Brien, lay sod for the diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56, just west of Willow Oak Drive. The new interchange, scheduled to be completed in summer 2022, is expected to relieve traffic snarls at the interchange. (Fred Bellet)

Interstate 75 at State Road 56 diverging diamond interchange
Construction began in January 2019, with a completion scheduled in summer 2022. The estimated cost is about $33 million.

The diverging diamond is a popular design innovation with a unique pattern that relies on multiple lanes of traffic in a crisscross pattern and a limited number of traffic signals.

This project is the first diverging diamond in District 7 of the FDOT. Others are planned in Hillsborough County at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I-75; and at Gibsonton Drive and I-75.

FDOT’S website praises the diverging diamond for its ability to handle heavy traffic volumes, increased pedestrian safety, more efficient signal timings and fewer opportunities for vehicles to crash.

Interstate 75 at Overpass Road
Construction on a new diamond interchange, including changes to local road patterns, began in October 2020. Completion of the approximately $64 million project is scheduled for summer 2023.

The new interchange is located about 3.5 miles south of State Road 52. There will be a flyover for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

Overpass will be widened from two to four lanes between I-75 and Old Pasco Road, and to six lanes between I-75 and Boyette Road. Blair Drive will be realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road, and McKendree Road will be realigned to connect to Boyette.

Initially, crews will work in the southwest area of the project where a new neighborhood access road will be built at Old Pasco Road. It will replace the current Blair Drive link to Overpass.

Motorists westbound on State Road 54 make their way into Wesley Chapel as eastbound motorists head into Zephyrhills. The state road is being widened from two lanes to four lanes, with a median, to ease traffic congestion.

State Road 54 widening in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills areas
About 4.5 miles of State Road 54 will be widened from two lanes to four lanes from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road.

Construction began in November 2017 and is scheduled for completion in late 2021. The estimated cost is $42.5 million.

In early November, eastbound traffic shifted onto newly paved lanes from west of Wesley Chapel Loop to New River Road. Simultaneously, Pasco is remodeling the New River Branch Public Library on State Road 54.

A sidewalk will be built on the north side of the roadway with a 10-foot-wide multi-use path on the south side.

State Road 52 widening and realignment near Dade City and San Antonio
The project will widen and realign State Road 52 between Uradco Place and Fort King Road.

Construction began in November 2019, with completion scheduled in summer 2024. The estimated cost is $81.4 million.

A short portion of McCabe Road between Curley Road and Wirt Road is closed until spring 2021. Williams Cemetery Road is closed east of Wichers Road and McCabe, also until spring 2021.

In addition, some daily lane closures, with flagmen signaling to motorists, can be expected on Curley, McCabe, Prospect Road and Clinton Avenue. A detour route is available using Curley, Prospect and Wirt.

State Road 52 widening in Land O’ Lakes
About 3.8 miles of State Road 52 will be widened into a six-lane divided road from Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41.

Construction began in September 2019, with completion scheduled in late 2023. The estimated cost is $49.8 million.

A 12-foot-wide multi-use path will be built on the north side of State Road 52. In addition, about one mile of U.S. 41 will be widened as it approaches the intersection with the state road.

By Kathy Steele

Revised January 25, 2021

Diverging Diamond is behind schedule

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A road project that’s expected to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is running behind schedule, and Pasco County commissioners aren’t happy.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore raised the issue during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting — citing the apparent lack of workers on the project.

“I drive it daily. My wife drives it daily. My oldest daughter probably drives it three to four times a week,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore is calling on state road officials to apply greater pressure to get the Diverging Diamond project back on track. (File)

“Yesterday, when I drove through there, I took a few photos. I saw one truck. I don’t know what he was doing, I’m not a contractor. And, I saw two guys standing on the side, down below.

“On a project of that magnitude, those are the only people I saw working on it Monday — a sunny Monday.

“That was about 1:15, 1:30 (in the afternoon), when I drove through there. Those were the only people working on that project when I drove by there.

“That’s insane.

“That’s ridiculous.

“That’s embarrassing,” Moore said.

“I know Commissioner (Kathryn) Starkey and I received a letter from a group of businesses over on the west side of the interchange, everywhere from the outlet mall to across the street to Sierra’s properties (Cypress Creek Town Center), too,” Moore said.

“It’s frustrating to all of our constituents here. It’s frustrating to the business owners,” he said.

It’s particularly irritating given the fact that the county worked with local state legislators to get the project moved, and now it’s behind schedule, Moore said.

“Now, we’re going into 2021. This was supposed to be done in the summer of ‘21, and be finished and completed. Unfortunately, they’re delayed.

“We have absolutely zero control, and when I say zero, we have zero control over these contractors for that project because that is a DOT project,” the commission chairman added.

Moore said he expressed the county’s displeasure to David Gwynn, secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Gwynn responded with an email outlining what’s happened so far in the project, and the DOT’s actions.

The project was started in early 2019 with an original schedule of 800 days, which would result in a finish date of April 2021, Gwynne’s email notes.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county needs to keep the pressure on, to get the state road project finished closer to its original completion date.

That schedule did not account for rain and holiday allowances or other factors outside the contractors control, the email adds.

To date, the contractor has been granted:

  • 99 days for weather
  • 34 days of holiday time
  • 30 days for unforeseen conditions

As a result, 163 days will be added to the contract, bringing the new end date to Aug. 26, 2021, the email notes.

“The department has discussed its concern with the contractor, DAB Constructors, as a result the contractor has gone to a 6-day work week to mitigate the schedule, and has agreed to focus their resources on completing existing work,” the email says.

The DOT also is looking for opportunities to move the job forward, the email notes, including:

  • Approving the use of alternate fill materials less sensitive to water, to accelerate work in low lying areas
  • Examining ways to combine traffic phases to shorten the overall duration of the project
  • Utilizing alternate road base options to accelerate new roadway construction
  • Examining ways to reconfigure walls on the project to shorten construction duration

Gwynn’s email says that “should the contractor not meet the contract end date, liquidated damages, of $9,837 a day, will be assessed for every day that the contractor is late in completing the project.”

The email goes on to say that the department sent a letter of concern to the contractor on March 23, and continues to review the contractor’s progress.

Finally, Gwynn said, “Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to hold the contractor accountable and accelerate the schedule where possible.”

Starkey said “I think DOT is doing as much as it can, to push it along,” but, she would like to see changes in the way contracts are awarded, to put a higher value on a company’s performance.

Moore said he’s happy to see what the DOT is doing, but isn’t satisfied with the results.

“The pressure needs to stay on,” Moore said.

“Basically, what needs to happen, is they need to hold their feet to the fire,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “Keep the pressure on.”

Published October 28, 2020

UPDATE: Southbound I-75 to westbound SR 56 reopened

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The southbound Interstate 75 ramp to westbound State Road 56 has been reopened.
Work on the Diverging Diamond had closed the right lane of the ramp heading west, but kept open the left lane on the ramp.
Now, motorists exiting at the ramp can head either direction on State Road 56.
The ramp was reopened because too much congestion was building up at the ramp, according to John McShaffrey, a community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation.
Revised June 03, 2020

Diverging diamond work moves forward

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Work is approaching the halfway mark on the diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

The project is expected to be completed in summer 2022, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials.

“We’ve got quite a way to go,” said John McShaffrey, FDOT communications outreach manager in District 7. “Until we get to the point we can convert to the diverging diamond, we really won’t see any benefit to the traffic or to pedestrians.”

Work on a diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is expected to be completed by 2022. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

Construction to retrofit the interchange began in 2019 on the project, which has an estimated cost of $33.2 million.

Diverging diamond interchanges rely on multiple lanes of traffic in a crisscross pattern, with a limited number of traffic signals.

Periodic lane closures and traffic shifts will be required, though most of the work is within the ramp areas. Activities are concentrated at the interchange between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Cypress Ridge Boulevard.

Once the new design is road ready, the interchange is expected to ease traffic gridlock at one of the county’s busiest intersections, where I-75, State Road 56, State Road 54 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard converge.

Tampa Premium Outlets, the Cypress Creek Town Center, AdventHealth Center Ice and Brightwater Crossings apartment complex are driving growth in retail and residential development.

They also are drawing long lines of motorists moving onto and off the busy roadways.

The project originally slated to begin in 2024 got moved ahead of schedule by about two years.

Just two weeks ago, the DOT announced that the project’s completion date was accelerated by two weeks under a directive by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor is taking advantage of reduced traffic volumes at this time to get road work completed more quickly.

This project is the first diverging diamond in District 7 of the FDOT.

Other similar designs are planned in Hillsborough County for State Road 54 and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, at I-75; and at Gibsonton Drive, at I-75.

Florida’s first diverging diamond opened at University Parkway at I-75, in Sarasota, in 2017.

Published May 20, 2020

Construction crews busy on area road projects

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Anyone who drives around Pasco County on a regular basis knows there aren’t many east-west roads that cut through the county’s vast expanse, and that it isn’t   a bit unusual to have to wait in traffic.

There are a number of projects, however, that are in the works, on the drawing board, or have been recently completed that are aimed at making life easier for Pasco motorists.

Of course, as more development arrives, more drivers use local roads — so complaints about “too much traffic” and “not enough roads” may persist, at least for the foreseeable future.

But, here is a look at some of what’s happening on the local transportation scene.

A diverging diamond interchange is under construction at the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange. The project, expected to wrap up by late 2021, aims to keep traffic flowing at the busy interchange.

Diverging Diamond Interchange
The diverging diamond interchange, currently in development, will reconfigure the current interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56 to improve traffic flow at a location that frequently is bottlenecked, especially during peak traffic periods. Work on the $33 million project began in January 2019 and is expected to be completed by late 2021. For more details, visit FDOTTampaBay.com/project/262/430573-1-52-01.

Ridge Road Extension
Construction is expected to begin in January on the Ridge Road Extension, a project that Pasco County has been seeking to build for two decades. The project will create a third east-west corridor in the county, extending existing Ridge Road from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey to the Suncoast Parkway, initially, and then to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. The extension will give drivers who are heading east or west across Pasco a new option. Currently, motorists heading east and west use State Road 52 or State Road 54. It also will be another evacuation route in the event of an emergency.

However, environmentalists have expressed concern about the project. The extension will run through the Serenova Tract of Starkey Wilderness Preserve. Tim Martin, chair of the Sierra Club Florida Conservation, said this will harm the preserve’s wetlands and its animals.

Phase one of the project costs an estimated $90 million. Phase two has not been funded yet. Construction completion is scheduled for the 2025-2026 timeframe.

State Road 54 widening, Zephyrhills to Wesley Chapel
State Road 54 is being widened from two lanes to four lanes, with a divided median, between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. The 4.5-mile stretch will run east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road. The $42.5-million development is expected to finish by the Summer of 2021.

Interstate 75/Overpass Road interchange
This project will create a new access point onto Interstate 75 at Overpass Road. The project includes widening Overpass Road — between Old Pasco Road and I-75 — from two lanes to four lanes. To the east, Overpass Road will be expanded to six lanes, between I-75 and Boyette Road. Off Overpass Road, Blair Drive will connect to Old Pasco Road, and Boyette Road will connect with McKendree Road. These connections with Overpass Road will create new access points between Wesley Chapel and Dade City.

A new State Road 52 corridor is expected to be built, branching off from the existing one. It will be another means of heading further east in Dade City.

New State Road 52 alignment
A new alignment of State Road 52 will provide a new way to travel east through Dade City. The new stretch of road will run south of the existing State Road 52. It will begin east of the Bayou Branch Canal and continue east to the intersection of Prospect Road and Clinton Avenue. Clinton Avenue will be widened to a four-lane road leading to Fort King Road. The existing State Road 52 also will be widened to four lanes between Uradco Place and the Bayou Branch Canal. At Bayou Branch Canal, the existing corridor will branch off into the new one.

Improvements completed in 2019 include:

Widening of State Road 52, from Bellamy Brothers to Old Pasco Road
A 1.5-mile stretch of State Road 52 has been widened from Bellamy Brothers Boulevard to Old Pasco Road. The road was widened from two lanes to four lanes, with a median. There also is a multi-use path on the north end of State Road 52 and a sidewalk on the south end. Construction on the $13.4 million project started in 2016.

State Road 56 extension
A new 6-mile extension of State Road 56 has created a new east-west corridor, between Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel and U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. The extension gives motorists an alternative to State Road 54, which also links the two communities. State Road 54 also is undergoing improvements. The State Road 56 extension is a four-lane road, divided by a median. It has a multi-purpose trail, a sidewalk and bicycle lanes. Traffic lights also were incorporated at Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301.

The right turn and left turn lanes for eastbound traffic on State Road 54 onto U.S. 41 have been extended. The improvement aims to reduce traffic backups for motorists heading onto U.S. 41. (File)

State Road 54, turning lane improvements
The right-turn and left-turn lanes on State Road 54 have been lengthened to ease turning movements and reduce congestion. The $1.1-million project provides more room in the turning lane for motorists who are heading east on State Road 54 and intend to turn onto U.S. 41. The change reduces wait time for motorists turning north or south onto U.S. 41. Another improvement modified the median opening where State Road 54 intersects with Hunt Road. The change allows eastbound traffic on State Road 54 the option of turning onto Hunt Road or making a U-turn. It allows westbound traffic to turn off of Hunt Road, but motorists coming from that direction can no longer make U-turns.

Published January 08, 2020

County continues tackling traffic issues

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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said there’s no specific solution in sight yet for congestion motorists face daily at U.S. 41 and State Road 54. But, the commissioner outlined a number of other projects underway that should improve mobility on the county’s roads.

Moore’s comments came during a sold-out luncheon meeting of The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 13, at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Tampa North, in Land O’ Lakes.

There are plans for a temporary fix at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, Moore said, noting some turn lanes are being extended — which should improve traffic flow.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talked about the county’s efforts to address traffic congestion, during a luncheon meeting with The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (B.C. Manion)

But, the final plan to address that intersection is not yet known, Moore said.

“We know something needs to be done, but,” he added, “funding obviously always is an issue.”

Plus, there’s not a consensus on the best approach.

“Do you use eminent domain and take out businesses? Do you do a flyover? We have a community that is split,” Moore said. “Our county staff is going to continue to work very closely with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) to come up with a viable solution.”

Addressing the issue is important, he added, because the entire stretch of State Road 54 is going to get busier as the area continues to grow.

“Do you look at Bus Rapid Transit? I’m kind of a fan of Bus Rapid Transit,” he said, but added he would like to see how Bus Rapid Transit has worked elsewhere.

While there’s no definite solution for the U.S. 41 and State Road 54 intersection, the county is making progress in other areas, Moore told chamber members.

The county is awaiting a federal permit to proceed with a project to extend Ridge Road, and Moore said he thinks the county is closing in on securing that.

He also talked about other road projects that are underway or planned.

For instance, plans call for widening U.S. 41 from Connerton Boulevard, north to State Road 52. Improvements also continue to widen State Road 52.

Moore also noted that construction is underway on the Diverging Diamond, a project that is expected to ease congestion at the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange.

State lawmakers helped get that project built much faster than originally planned, Moore said.

The commissioner also talked about a planned interchange at Overpass Road and I-75.

“State legislators helped us get $15 million toward that. It’s about a $70 million project. We’re allowing FDOT to control that project because they’re the professionals, and they know what they’re doing when it comes to design-builds.

“That is moving forward now,” Moore said.

He also noted that State Road 56 has been extended from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel over to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

“That is an amazing extension.

“Now, we’re even looking at punching it (State Road 56) through, so it goes to (U.S.) 98, too,” he said, but that plan remains under discussion.

Moore also touched on the positive impact that tourism has had in the county.

“Tourism is booming right now,” Moore said.

It generated an overall economic impact of $615 million in 2018,  he said, noting the county had 965,000 visitors that year. There were 7,480 tourism-supported jobs, and tourism generated  $156 million in wages.

Published August 28, 2019

Residents generally pleased with county services, surveys say

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Overall, Pasco County fared well in recent citizen surveys intended to help inform the county’s planning in its allocation of resources, and to improve its programs and policies.

“This is what we call our voice of the customer,” Marc Bellas, performance management director for Pasco County, told the Pasco County Commission during a recent meeting.

In terms of overall government services, the county scored above the national benchmark of 67%, Bellas said.

“This is the highest rating we’ve ever had, since we’ve been doing this here in Pasco County since 2009,” he said, noting the goal in the county’s strategic plan is to score 70 percent.

“We believe in the next year that we’re going to be able to do that,” he said.

According to the survey, 72% of Pasco residents rated the county as a good or excellent place to live. That’s up 5% over last year.

Two-thirds gave the county excellent or good ratings for its customer services.

In terms of the economy, Bellas said all of the dimensions are trending up.

“That’s very good news in Pasco County,” he said.

“Usually, employment opportunities and Pasco’s a good place to work have always been the very lowest, but you can see that we’re now trending upwards from 2014. That’s good news. That means that we’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

Those were just some of the findings from the National Community Survey, which was conducted through the National Research Center Inc., in collaboration with the International City/County Management Association.

The survey was developed to provide a statistically valid survey of resident opinions, regarding their community and services provided by local government. About 350 communities participate in the survey annually, according to Bellas’ presentation to commissioners.

This year’s survey was distributed to 1,600 selected addresses in Pasco County, with 263 surveys completed, representing an 18 percent return rate. The results have a plus or minus 6% margin of error.

In addition to the surveys that were distributed, the county conducted an online citizen survey, using the same questions.

The county does the online survey primarily for comparisons, Bellas said.

“It is not a statistically valid instrument, but we find the correlations between the two to be very, very close,” Bellas said. The online survey gives citizens who were not selected for the survey a chance to express their views. This year 1,748 citizens took part.

Bellas said the survey looks at eight facets of livable communities: safety, mobility, the natural environment, the built environment, the economy, recreation and wellness, education and enrichment, and community engagement.

“In our particular survey, for our folks, the three most important areas were safety, mobility and the economy,” Bellas said.

“When we look at the Impact on the overall quality of life, safety is always at the very top.

Safe neighborhoods, and safe and uncongested roadways — are No. 1 and No. 2.

“The folks who took the survey consider these to be essential, or at the very least, very important,” he said.

Most of this year’s ratings were similar to last year’s, Bellas said.

But, the county did see “some significant downward movement in the mobility piece,” he said.

Regarding mobility, the people using Pasco County’s bus system gave it favorable marks.

But, motorists were less complimentary.

“There are some downward trends here, ease of car travel, specifically, traffic flow, traffic enforcement — those are some concerns for us, because they are downward trends,” Bellas said.

There also are concerns about traffic congestion, light timing and speeding, Bellas noted.

Sgt. Steve Gaskins, of the Florida Highway Patrol, said there are 24 troopers assigned to Pasco County.

“We work everything in unincorporated areas of the county,” he said, noting “we had roughly 5,000 crashes so far (this year). We worked 85 percent of them with our 24 troopers.

“We’ve had 55 fatalities in the county, this year alone,” Gaskins added.

“One of our big issues is getting to people who need help, as quickly as possible,” he said.

He also acknowledged concerns about speeding.

“Speeding is one of the huge complaints that I get all of the time from residents across the county,” Gaskins said.

If there were more troopers, they could be more proactive, Gaskins said.  “We could do more activity to stem the tide of those crashes,” he said.

Additional equipment also would help with speed control and enforcement, he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore asked how many troopers Gaskins thought were needed.

“If I had a wish list, I would say 50,” Gaskins responded.

Chase Daniels, of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, said efforts are being made to identify problem areas for speeding, and in the development of enforcement action plans.

Daniels also noted: “We are increasing our radar-certified officers.”

In terms of mobility, both Moore and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley noted a number of recent improvements and projects that will be coming soon that they expect to create much better mobility across the county.

Specifically, they mentioned the Diverging Diamond being built to relieve congestion at State Road 56 and Interstate 75; the recent extension of State Road 56 to U.S. 301; and work underway to widen State Road 52 and State Road 54.

Other future projects that will be done in coming years include a new alignment for State Road 52 near Dade City and a new I-75 interchange at Overpass Road.

Published August 28, 2019

Session highlights area roads

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Pasco County residents had the chance to gain insight on three local road projects at a Feb. 26 open house presented by the Florida Department of Transportation.

The state road department officials fielded questions from residents during the session at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel.

Residents could view poster boards and watch videos to learn more about these three projects:

  • The Diverging Diamond Interchange connecting State Road 56 with Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel.
  • The State Road 56 extension from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301
  • Widening Old State Road 54 east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road

While residents appeared to be interested in all three projects, the Diverging Diamond seemed to attract the most attention.

“This is the one that matters most to me,” said Lee Anne Pete, noting she drives in the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 area “every day, at least once.”

John McShaffrey, left, of the Florida Department of Transportation, informs Mike Lin on the operation of the Diverging Diamond Interchange in Wesley Chapel. (Brian Fernandes)

Since she and her husband moved to the area a decade ago, they have witnessed the growing development along State Road 54 and State Road 56.

The Wesley Chapel resident said she often gets stuck in traffic congestion on the northbound ramp leading onto State Road 56, from I-75.

One comforting solution for Pete is a third lane being added to the ramp leading west onto the State Road 56 bridge.

Currently, the 2-mile ramp branches off: Two lanes head west on State Road 56 and two lanes head east.

Greg Deese, FDOT resident engineer said: “This has been a long time coming in regard to congestion relief. We’re hopeful that’s what this is going to accomplish.”

Since construction began in January, workers are continuing to install drainage pipes under the southbound ramp heading onto I-75 and the northbound ramp heading onto State Road 56.

This, in conjunction with a lane expansion on the northbound ramp, may result in future lane closures.

However, any closures will continue to occur only at night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The next phase will be reconfiguring lanes on State Road 56 to crisscross before reaching the bridge, Deese said.

“Most of the time, you’re going to see during traffic shifts [that] they’re going to be working behind concrete barrier walls,” the engineer added. “You’re going to see the construction, but they’re not going to close lanes – especially during the day.”

The state transportation department projects that impacts to normal traffic flow will not be an issue whether traveling on or off the bridge.

Although the reception has been generally positive regarding the interchange, there are those who have expressed their concerns.

Mike Lin is somewhat skeptical of the added traffic light where the northbound ramp leads east onto State Road 56.

Currently, traffic on the ramp merging eastbound onto State Road 56 becomes congested even with no stop light present.

With the addition of the light, the New Tampa resident fears it will only worsen an already existing problem.

And, while the state transportation department assures that the bridge will not need to undergo an expansion for additional lanes, Lin has doubts about that, as well.

“How do you get it to fit in the existing bridge?” Lin asked. “Unless you’re going to make the lanes narrower, I don’t know how you do that,” he added.

The project plans to have three lanes heading eastbound on the State Road 56 bridge.

Westbound traffic will hold six lanes as studies show there is heavier activity on that route.

The $33-million interchange project is set for completion in late 2021.

Another road project featured at the meeting was the extension of State Road 56, from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

The $59.2-million project is of much interest, as it creates a direct link from Wesley Chapel into Zephyrhills.

Along State Road 56, pedestrians will be accommodated with a multipurpose trail on the south end, a sidewalk on the north end and bicycle lanes on both ends of the road.

The 6-mile project is expected to be completed later this year.

Another project featured at the open house involves the widening of Old State Road 54, east of Curley Road in Wesley Chapel to the east of Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills.

The 4.5-mile project will expand Old State Road 54 from two lanes to four lanes, divided by medians.

A sidewalk will be added to the north end, while a multipurpose trail will be added to the south end.

The $42.5-million project is expected to be complete by mid-2021.

Published March 06, 2019

Diverging Diamond aims to ease traffic flow

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Construction began on Jan. 7 for a project known as the Diverging Diamond, in Wesley Chapel.

The project will redesign the existing diamond-shaped bridge that interchanges Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

“All we’re really doing is reconfiguring the diamond,” explained John McShaffrey, community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation. “You still got the diamond, but how you get to the diamond and where you come off the diamond is going to be different.”

Traffic backs up daily, as commuters make their way home at the end of the day. A project known as the ‘Diverging Diamond’ will help improve traffic flow, thus cutting the amount of time that drivers are on the road. (File)

The project is expected to ease the flow of traffic, save time for drivers and reduce bottlenecks.

At this stage, construction workers are drilling underground and installing drainage pipes to align with road expansion on the state road. All lanes will remain open, as work will be done off-road – with no expected impact to traffic.

There are scheduled lane closures at night along State Road 56 and interstate ramps, to allow paving work to be done.

To avoid conflicting with peak traffic hours, those closures are scheduled from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and are expected to continue for the next three months.

Barrier walls will be used to block off one lane of traffic at a time, and traffic delays due to those closures are expected to be minimal, McShaffrey said.

There also may be some rare lane closures on I-75 at night, but most will occur on State Road 56.

“The diverging diamond is a popular new method of moving traffic through interchanges around the country,” McShaffrey said, explaining why that option was chosen.

The State Road 56 bridge, which spans I-75, will not be widened, but will be redesigned to accommodate additional lanes.

The redesign includes removing the pedestrian walkways on both ends of the bridge, and placing a single walkway between eastbound and westbound lanes.

Before reaching the bridge, the lanes on State Road 56 will crisscross, putting eastbound traffic on the north end of the bridge and westbound traffic on the south end.

State Department of Transportation figures reveal that westbound traffic is heavier than eastbound. There are 67,500 vehicles heading westbound each day, compared with 51,000 vehicles heading eastbound.

Also, the northbound ramp that leads to State Road 56 from I-75 is more congested that its southbound counterpart.

This is an aerial view of what a Diverging Diamond looks like.

And, vehicles heading south from State Road 56, back onto the I-75 ramp, outnumber motorists who are heading north from State Road 56 onto the interstate.

In response, the transportation department plans to have four through lanes and two left-turning lanes heading westbound, and to have three through lanes and one left-turning lane heading eastbound.

The changes will provide a better flow of traffic for motorists, McShaffrey said.

Also, “we’ll have more continuous green time for the through traffic – that’s the big benefit of it.”

Once vehicles in the left-turning lanes pass the lights and reach the bridge, they can smoothly transition onto the ramps without any competing traffic.

While this will be a new adjustment for travelers, there will be visible pavement markings and overhead signs to clearly guide motorists, assured McShaffrey.

The $33 million project is slated for completion in late 2021.

Learn more about the Diverging Diamond
When: Feb. 26, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Conference Center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel
Details: To provide information and answer questions about the Diverging Diamond, a project now under construction to change the configuration of the interchange at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.
Cost: The open house is free.
To view an animation of the project and receive updates on the Diverging Diamond, sign up for an alert at FDOTTampaBay.com/project/262/430573-1-52-01.

Published February 06, 2019