The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Boyette Road

Overpass Road has reopened

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Overpass Road reopened last week to vehicular traffic, between Old Pasco and Boyette roads.

One lane is open in each direction, according to a Pasco County news release.

No pedestrian or bicycle traffic is allowed and there is no access to Interstate 75, from Overpass Road.

Additional lanes on Overpass Road and the ramps to and from I-75 are projected to open later this year or early 2023, the news release says.

There also will be traffic signals at Old Pasco Road, the two intersections at the I-75 ramps, and Boyette Road.

Construction continues to build sidewalks for future safe pedestrian use.

The area is posted at 30 mph for worker and public safety. Motorists also must be prepared to stop at Old Pasco and Boyette roads.

Overpass Road had been closed since February 2021 to remove the existing bridge and build replacement bridges in conjunction with the new interchange construction, the release adds.

At the time of the closure, according to a report in The Laker/Lutz News, officials from the Florida Department of Transportation, said the closure was expected to last a year, which is essentially what happened.

Although the road has reopened, work on the design-build project continues.

The new interstate interchange being built at I-75 at Overpass Road, is about 3.5 miles south of State Road 52. The new diamond interchange will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

Overpass Road is being widened to four lanes between I-75 and Old Pasco Road and to six lanes between I-75 and Boyette Road.

Completion of the approximately $64 million project is scheduled for summer 2023.

Published March 02, 2022

Work continues on plans to extend Overpass Road

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Work is set to proceed this spring to lay the groundwork for an extension of Overpass Road, east of Boyette Road to U.S. 301.

Design permitting and re-evaluation of the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study is set to begin this spring and is expected to be finished in 2023.

Pasco County is providing $2.5 million and the Florida Department of Transportation also is providing $2.5 million, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

The county board approved a Transportation Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) Agreement with FDOT on Jan. 12, 2021, for the design phase of the project.

Under terms of that agreement, Pasco County agreed to fund $2,584,107 and FDOT would fund $2,415,893, of the estimated $5 million design cost.

Typically, TRIP Agreements are funded 50/50, but the FDOT had to reduce its funding by  $84,107 because of fiscal impacts to their Work Program. The state transportation agency agreed to restore those funds in its Fiscal Year 2022 Work Program.

So, the county board approved an action at its Jan. 25 meeting to reduce the amount of funding contributed by the county and increase FDOT’s funding, to arrive at a match of $2.5 million each.

No other changes to the initial TRIP Agreement are proposed.

According to FDOT’s website, the project limits extend from Old Pasco Road on the west to U.S. 301 on the east, for a total length of approximately 9 miles.

Improvements for Overpass Road include the following:

  • Four lanes from Old Pasco Road to Interstate 75
  • A new interchange at I-75 and Overpass Road
  • Six lanes plus two auxiliary lanes from I-75 to Boyette Road
  • Six lanes from Boyette Road to US 301

Published February 09, 2022

Gas station proposed at Overpass and Boyette

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A rezoning is being sought to allow a gas station at the southeast corner of the intersection at Overpass and Boyette roads, in Wesley Chapel.

Creighton Companies LLC is the applicant for the request.

The 4.9-acre site currently consists of 1.84 acres zoned as part of a master-planned development and 3.06 acres zoned for agricultural uses.

The rezoning request calls for a new master-planned zoning that would accommodate development of a 4,650-square-foot convenience store with 16 vehicle fueling positions and ancillary car wash, and 10,000 square feet of general commercial/retail.

The project site would have a right-in only connect to Boyette Road, a full access connection to Boyette Road, and an existing right-in, right-out connection to Overpass Road, shared with the adjacent Kids R Kids day care facility.

The buildout of the convenience store and fueling station is anticipated within approximately one year, according to the agenda packet.

The requested change was prompted by recent development approvals, including Overpass Business Park and the planned interchange at Overpass Road and I-75, which is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2023, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

A companion request also has been filed to change the land use map from a designation allowing residential to one that permits commercial uses. The planning board and county planners also have recommended approval of that request.

These requests now will go to the  Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over land use and zoning issues.

Published May 26, 2021

Pasco seeing tourism gains, road improvements

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Tourism is ramping up in Pasco County and considerable roadwork is underway, too, to make it easier for motorists to get around.

Those were the main messages delivered by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore at a meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore was a featured guest speaker during an April 27 East Pasco Networking Group meeting at IHOP in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

Moore, chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, described how well the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County has been performing, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sports complex, at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has been attracting youth and amateur sporting events year-round since its August 2020 opening.

The indoor space can accommodate up to 17 different sports — including basketball, volleyball and cheerleading, or pickleball, futsal, wrestling, mixed martial arts, karate and others.

This widespread flexibility has seemingly been put to good use, with weekdays set aside for residents and weekends generally reserved for large-scale tournaments that can become family affairs, as parents and siblings road trip together.

Moore observed the complex is “constantly full.”

“Every single weekend there is a tournament there where people are coming from somewhere else,” he said. “There’s weekends where we get over 2,000 room nights for those tournaments. So, what happens? Hoteliers are obviously happy, supplying those jobs for our hotels. Those small businesses, restaurants, retail, gas pumps – everybody’s benefiting when you bring those people here.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore expressed optimism about the county’s tourism future, given amenities such as the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

Moore also pointed to AdventHealth Center Ice, which has continued to be a major draw since opening in January 2017, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

At 150,000 square feet, it’s the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States, with four full-size rinks and one kid-size rink.

It’s regarded for being the training grounds of the 2018 U.S. women’s national hockey team that went on to win an Olympic gold medal in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“The ice rink is incredible,” Moore said. “They have tournaments on the weekends, international tournaments, and people coming from Canada, South America, people coming from over in Europe to literally play hockey right here at Center Ice.”

Moore posited that such youth, amateur and community-focused facilities can yield very similar — if not greater — economic impact as a major professional sports franchise, such as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which plays eight regular season home games, plus a few preseason and postseason contests.

“Those (facilities) have just as large of an impact as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing on Sunday, when you think about how many people are (cumulatively) traveling for those events, and especially when they’re every single weekend.

“Personally I think it’s so much better to have these types of facilities than a pro sports team, because it’s a year-round benefit for the businesses in Pasco County, not just eight times a year or 10 times a year.

“These people, they’re traveling with their families, too. These kids aren’t typically driving on their own, their whole family’s coming (to Pasco).”

Moore addressed a number of roadway infrastructure projects, like the State Road 54 widening from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills areas. (File)

Moore addressed other recreational and tourism developments, as well, such as the ongoing construction of a visitor’s center/bike hub in the heart of downtown Dade City, across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead, at the corner of Church Avenue and Eighth Street.

The $250,000 project — expected to be complete in June — was funded by the county’s tourist development tax dollars.

The amenity is set to further motivate beginner and avid cyclists alike to stop in Dade City.

It also may serve as a driver for more organized road cycling races to the surrounding East Pasco area, too.

“We know how big biking is in this area,” Moore said. “You’ve got people coming from all over the country to Dade City, to ride those hills.”

Further on the tourism and recreation front, Moore mentioned an 18,000-square-foot indoor recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park will be complete in July. The public-use facility will offer programming for basketball, volleyball and other activities for all ages. There’s meeting room space for clubs and other organizations, also. “That’s going to be beautiful,” Moore said of the forthcoming center.

Regarding road construction, Moore pointed out that many of the roads that traverse the county are state roads — and a considerable amount of work is being done to improve those roads.

Among them are construction projects on State Road 52, State Road 54, and an interchange improvement at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

There’s also a new diamond interchange that will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

To accommodate the new interchange, Overpass Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes between the interstate and Old Pasco Road, and six lanes between the interstate and Boyette Road. Blair Drive will be realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road. McKendree Road will be realigned to connect with Boyette Road.

The $64 million design-built project aims to provide more relief to other exits off I-75, Moore said.

“When you think about people living in Dade City and San Antonio, and coming and living in that area, they’ll be able to get off that new overpass interchange and go right through Epperson Ranch and Connected City, and get right into Dade City, if they don’t want to take the next Dade City exit.”

Moore added the project’s contractor, The Middlesex Corporation, “is moving really fast,” with an estimated completion of summer 2023.

Meanwhile, the commissioner mentioned the county has another $6 million in state funds to support connection and widening projects along the U.S. 98/U.S. 301 corridor.

These “important” roadway upgrades should help alleviate freight truck traffic and allow for the movement of goods without jumping major highways, he explained.

Combined with the proximity to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, CSX Transportation Railroad, and an emerging light industrial manufacturing hub, the roadway plan “really helps when you think about the economy in this area,” he said.

Published May 19, 2021

Easter services are evolving, amidst pandemic

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There was so much uncertainty last year about COVID-19 that many churches changed up their Easter celebrations, to reduce potential spread of the disease.

A year later, many churches across the region continue to use a variety of approaches in celebrating Christianity’s most significant holy day.

Last year, for instance, Idlewild Baptist Church, at 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz, relied on online services to celebrate Easter. This year, it will be holding a number of in-person services.

The First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes, at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., livestreamed its Easter service last year. This year, it will have an in-person service.

Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, at 2348 Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes, created a more personal touch for its online services last year, by attaching photographs of parishioners on chairs — so officiants could look at them, while saying Mass.

This year, the church will have in-person services — while limiting the size of the crowds.

Last year, Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2018 Riegler Road, in Land O’ Lakes had a drive-in Easter service and it will do that again this year, on April 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Grace Community Church, at 7107 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel, will switch from the drive-in service it had last year to an in-person worship service on April 4 at 10:30 a.m. After the service, families will be able to take advantage of a photo booth, to pose for their Easter pictures. Last year, families shot selfies in their cars.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills will have its 36th annual Easter Sunrise Service at 7 a.m., on April 4, virtually, via Facebook.com/adventhealthzephyrhills. The event was held virtually last year, too, after decades of conducting the service on the hospital’s lawn.

Meanwhile, across the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg, Bishop Gregory Parkes has kept protocols in place for the nearly 500,000 Catholics in Tampa Bay Area, according to a Diocesan news release.

Those protective measures include social distancing, sanitizing and the use of face coverings.

Church holy water fonts remain empty and collection baskets are not circulated, the news release says.

Bishop Parkes also has kept in place the general dispensation from Sunday Mass at this time.

If you’re interested in attending an Easter service, be sure to check your local church to get the latest details on services. Many places of worship require reservations, so be sure to check soon to reserve your spot.

Published March 31, 2021

County transfers funds for park improvements

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Pasco County has transferred funding from its engineering services division to its parts, recreation and natural resources division to pay for land needed for a roads project.

The transferred funds, totaling $329,500, will pay for park improvements at the Samuel W. Pasco Recreation Complex, to include new sidewalks and an Americans with Disabilities Act accessible parking expansion, and the Wesley Chapel District Park T-Ball Field to include lighting and grading of that field.

The Pasco County Commission approved transferring the funds from engineering services to parks and recreation to purchase 6.59 acres, which was previously part of the Wesley Chapel District Park.

The land was needed to accommodate a northbound off-ramp from Interstate 75 and to widen Overpass Road, between I-75 and Boyette Road. The land will be contained in the right of way of the road project. The cost for the land was $50,000 per acre.

Published March 24, 2021

A section of Overpass Road will close next week

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A section of Overpass Road — between Old Pasco Road and Boyette Road — is scheduled to be closed to all traffic for approximately a year beginning on Feb. 8, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The road closure is needed as the existing bridge over Interstate 75 is removed and a new one is constructed, a news release from the state transportation department says.

This map depicts the detour during the closure of Overpass Road, which begins on Feb. 8. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

A signed detour route will direct traffic around the closed section of Overpass Road, using Old Paso Road, Wesley Chapel Boulevard (County Road 54 and State Road 54) and Vandine Road/Boyette Road, according to the release.

This design-build project will construct a new interstate interchange on I-75 at Overpass Road,  about 3.5 miles south of State Road 52. The new diamond interchange will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

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

Construction on the new diamond interchange, including changes to local road patterns, began on Oct. 26. Completion of the approximately $64 million project is scheduled for summer 2023.

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.

Overpass Road Interchange
A new interchange to Interstate 75 is being built at Overpass Road.
Construction limits: From Old Pasco Road to Boyette Road on Overpass Road
Length: 0.9-miles
Construction cost: $64 million
Project start date: October 2020
Estimated completion date: Summer 2023
Detour: Overpass Road is expected to be closed for approximately one year, between Old Pasco Road and Boyette Road, beginning Feb. 8.

Published February 03, 2021

Street hockey rinks open in Wesley Chapel, Holiday

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Perhaps someday a future hockey star will be able to say he or she first learned to play hockey on the streets of Wesley Chapel and Holiday.

Pasco County has added to its assorted sports and recreational profile with yet another outdoor activity in check — street hockey.

Two new outdoor street hockey rinks have opened at Wesley Chapel District Park and the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex in Holiday. The rinks were created through a public-private partnership between Pasco County and the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Tampa Bay Lightning. The rinks are approximately 60 feet by 120 feet, with a full dasher-board system. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Two public outdoor ball hockey rinks are now available for use at J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex in Holiday and Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road in Wesley Chapel.

The concrete rinks — approximately 60 feet by 120 feet, with a full dasher-board system — are part of a public-private partnership between the county and the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning, the defending Stanley Cup champions.

Designed with the idea of growing the game of hockey throughout local communities, the rinks will allow young hockey players in the area a place to train, whether it’s the grass roots level or in organized leagues and tournaments.

A virtual ribbon-cutting ceremony of the rinks was held Dec. 10, with several representatives on hand from both the county and Lightning, respectively.

“We are very proud to open these two rinks today as part of our pledge to build 10 ball hockey rinks across the Tampa Bay area,” Lightning CEO Steve Griggs said. “These two rinks that we opened will give local youth the opportunity to get outside and play the great game of hockey. The Lightning would like to thank Pasco County for their enthusiasm and support in helping us make this a reality for everyone in Pasco County.”

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey tabbed the rinks “just one more wonderful thing that we’re bringing to Pasco County, to give our residents a really high quality of life.”

“This is another unique sport for kids to be involved in and learn all the good, life lessons you learn when you’re a part of a team,” Starkey said. “These rinks are a real value to the county and to the communities we serve.”

She also noted: “When (the Lightning) mentioned that they were going to put one (rink) in, knowing how large our county is and how much need that we have here, I asked them if they’d be kind enough to put in two.”

Count former Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk among those “super, super excited” to witness outdoor ball hockey ramping up in Pasco.

“This place will be loaded with kids every night,” said Andreychuk, who serves as the franchise’s vice president of corporate and senior affairs. “As we know, having kids, giving them an activity, something to do, is a great thing.”

The county was responsible for laying out the rink concrete slabs, while the Lightning built out the remainder of the project, including the dasher boards, goal nets and electronic scoreboards. The pro hockey franchise also will be supplying equipment, such as sticks, balls and protective gear.

Lightning community hockey manager Josh Dreith, too, figures the rinks will be a score on both the east and west sides of Pasco: “I love Pasco County. There’s a ton of Lightning fans in Pasco County, and there’s a ton of engaged kids, as well.”

The Holiday and Wesley Chapel locations are part of 10 rinks being funded and constructed in the five-county Tampa Bay area — via a $6 million grassroots hockey development initiative from the Lightning’s Build the Thunder 2.0 and Connect the Thunder programs, and the NHL’s Industry Growth Fund. The other rinks are situated in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas and Polk counties, respectively.

The rinks in Pasco are available upon request for open play now. There’s hope to have league play begin by March, depending on the COVID-19 situation, officials say.

Programming at the new rinks will eventually include:

  • Clinics run by Lightning alumni
  • Ball hockey leagues
  • Adult ball hockey
  • Ball hockey lessons

All essential equipment for teams playing ball hockey will be provided by the Lightning, including hockey sticks, balls and goalie protective equipment. Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources will manage all programming and maintenance of the rinks.

Keith Wiley, the county’s parks department director, explained: “We’re going to have a combination of free play, obviously open to the public. And then, in coordination with the Lightning, we will be working on actual league play, where we can create some structured programming, depending on (the) season.”

With the partnership, the county contributed property and $240,000 toward the cost of the underlying concrete pads at the two outdoor rinks. From there, the Lightning have built out the remainder of the infrastructure, with dasher boards, scoreboards, penalty boxes, goalie nets, and more.

Engineering design on the rinks began in February. Construction began in August with the county’s portion of the work completed in late October.

Contracting through the Lightning, EnvironBuild LLC finished the dasher boards and scoreboards on Dec. 10.

Some minor improvements do remain, such as sheds, bleachers, and scoreboard electrical connections. Those touches are expected to be complete around March or so.

Published January 06, 2021

A festive trail leads to surprises

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Frosty the Snowman, known as Collin Stewart, 14, of Wesley Chapel, came to life and waved at children as they stopped for stocking goodies from Budget Blinds. Colton Mays, 6, and his mom, Jenafer Mays, were among the hundreds that attended the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event, hosted by Wesley Chapel Rotary. (Fred Bellet)

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel sponsored a Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event on Dec. 20, at Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Road.

Families were encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring their stockings to drive through a trail of vendor tents, and a sudsy blizzard.

The dreary weather didn’t stop an estimated 400 cars (approximately 1,200 people) from cruising through the line, for kids to have their stockings filled with goodies.

Frosty the Snowman made an appearance, and drive-thru pictures with Santa were offered, too.

A portion of the donations support the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club’s sponsorship of foster children, as well as the Underdog Fund and local scholarships.

Fifteen-year-old, Elias Deoliveira, of Plant City; Daniece Croy, 13, of Zephyrhills; and Darrion Croy, 11, of Seffner, ride in the tailgate of the family car while inspecting their stocking contents.
Members of the all-female krewe, Sirens of the Golden Sabre, were on hand for the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru. The group usually can be seen each year in the USF Homecoming Parade, the City of Tampa’s Santa Fest Parade, Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza Parade, Gasparilla Piratefest Parade of Pirates, Sant’ Yago Knight Parade, Rough Rider’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Tampa Pride Parade. They say their main goal is to assist in charitable endeavors.
From the Culver’s vendor tent, Connor Zuba, of Tampa, fills the stockings of 4-year old Jeremiah Gaghan and 10-year-old Kaleb Gaghan. The children were there with their parents, Dawn and Peter Perez, of Wesley Chapel.
Cathy Dileo, of Dileo Design and Staging in Wesley Chapel, wore a unique mask at the Stock Your Stuffing Drive Thru. Dileo said she bought the mask locally.
Four year-old, Joseph Fonseca, 4, was no different than many of the other kids who collected goodies while waiting in the car window. Joseph and his dad, Joseph Fonseca, from Wesley Chapel, were among the many that attended the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event, hosted by Wesley Chapel Rotary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pasco County adding two street hockey rinks

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Pasco County and the Lightning Foundation have partnered on a project that will result in two street hockey rinks in the county, including one in Wesley Chapel.

The Pasco County Commission approved the agreement at its Jan. 7 meeting.

As part of the deal, the county will spend an estimated $240,000 to build concrete pads and associated infrastructure, which will be turned into street hockey rinks, complete with flashboards, scoreboards, scorers’ tables, and penalty boxes.

The Lightning Foundation will establish street hockey programming, including league play and tournaments. And, it will donate two complete sets of street hockey gear, including 80 sticks, two cases of balls, four goal nets, four youth sets of protective goalie gear, four adult size sets of protected goal gear and 80 reversible scrimmage vests, to be kept at the rinks.

One rink will be built at the Wesley Chapel District Park, at 7727 Boyette Road, and the other at the J. Ben Harrill Recreation Complex, at 2830 Gulf Trace Blvd., in Holiday.

Both locations are large enough to accommodate the outdoor street hockey rinks.

Jay Feaster, vice president of Community Hockey Development, told commissioners the street hockey rinks fit into an overall “Build the Thunder” effort.

Feaster said that the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players Association and Lightning owner Jeff Vinik are involved in the program.

Over a five-year period, “we committed to donate 100,000 Lightning logo street hockey sticks and balls to children within the five contiguous county area of Amalie Arena,” Feaster said.

That commitment also included visiting 500 schools during that period and donating “500 complete sets of street hockey gear, so the schools could continue to have children playing long after we were gone.

“This is the start of that fifth year. We have thus far donated 106,000-plus Lightning logo sticks and balls to 503 schools within the five-county area.

“About three years ago, we realized that after we distributed all of those sticks and balls that we had a place that those youngsters to play,” Feaster said.

Ten outdoor street hockey rinks are planned.

“We want to proceed to actually build two of those street hockey rinks here in Pasco,” Feaster told commissioners. The rinks will be 60 feet by 120 feet, and are expected to be completed by Aug. 30.

The Lightning Foundation also will provide a public awareness campaign and promote the scheduled clinics and league play opportunities.

It also will present street hockey clinics at the rinks once per quarter using Tampa Bay Lightning alumni and street team members.

And, it will invite the rinks’ street hockey champions to participate in a Tournament of Champions sponsored by the Lightning Foundation.

The Lightning Foundation also will have the sole right to sell sponsorship rights in connection with the dashboard, scoreboard, signs, etc.

“We’re excited about it,” Feaster said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is enthusiastic, too.

“I just can’t tell you how excited our citizens are, and our kids, and I’m really looking forward to this,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano praised the Lightning’s community contributions.

“What you’ve done has really elevated the whole Tampa Bay region,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley marveled at the transformation regarding hockey in the region.

“I grew up in this area. We didn’t have hockey. That was a northern sport,” Oakley said.

Developing future hockey players requires early exposure to the game, Oakley said.

“That’s the way you get ‘em started, you’ve got to start young,” Oakley said.

Published January 22, 2020