The Laker/Lutz News

Curley Road

Pasco County Schools continue to add more school choices

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The Pasco County School Board recently approved the conversion of two existing elementary schools into Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) magnet schools.

The board voted on Dec. 14 to shift the boundaries for Centennial Elementary School, in Dade City and for Marlowe Elementary School in New Port Richey into the boundaries of nearby schools.

The conversion to the new approach to learning will take place beginning in the fall of the 2022-2023 school year.

A new 6-12 STEAM magnet school is expected to open in the fall of 2023, near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco campus. The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

Centennial Elementary will provide a convenient option for students and families in East Pasco, to explore the same educational opportunities as those offered at Sanders Elementary STEAM Magnet School, in Land O’ Lakes. Marlowe will do the same in West Pasco.

Sanders recently received national recognition for the quality of its programs.

Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, under construction on Curley Road in East Pasco, will open during the fall of the 2022-2023 school year.

The school is expected to have an enrollment of 1,000 students and its programs will include digital technology, engineering, biomedical science, transportation and building technology.

The 104-acre school site is about 3 miles due east of Interstate 75.

A number of career and technical education labs are planned, including those designed for digital media, engineering robotics, biomedical and patient care.

Automotive, diesel, welding, construction, electrical and cybersecurity programs are planned, as well. The diesel program will be one of just a few in Florida.

The school district also is expected to open a new 6-12 STEAM magnet program in Land O’ Lakes, near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County campus.

School district and Moffitt officials are already in discussion regarding the vast potential for unique learning opportunities for students who will be attending that school.

The school, which is expected to open in the fall of 2023, is planned on an 18.8-acre site within Angeline, south of State Road 52, north of the future Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard, according to Ajax’s website.

These schools are just a few of the educational options that Pasco parents can choose for their students.

Those wishing to know more can visit the school district’s website to peruse the Pasco Schools Pathways school choice catalog to find out more about program offerings.

The window for applications opens at 8 a.m. on Jan. 6 and closes on Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.

Window for school choice opens Jan. 6
The application window for Pasco Pathways School Choice opens on Jan. 6 at 8 a.m. and closes on Jan. 20, at 4:30 p.m.

This will be the only application window for all grade levels, and it will be for all school choice options, including STEM and STEAM magnet schools, Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Wendell Krinn Technical High School, International Baccalaureate (IB), and the Cambridge Programme.

The Pasco Pathways Innovative Programs and School Choice application will be available for parents via the myStudent parent portal. Parents who don’t already have an account may establish a myStudent account by clicking on the myStudent link.

Go the Pasco County Schools website to find out more. The school district’s website is www.pasco.k12.fl.us/

Published December 29, 2021

State Road 54 work expected to resume this month

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Work on a project to widen State Road 54 — from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road — is expected to resume on Dec. 20, according to Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Seven Secretary David Gwynn.

Gwynn recently updated the board of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization regarding the status of three construction projects that were stalled this summer, when the contractor handling the work defaulted.

“It was the end of July when DAB  (Contractors) defaulted, more or less put us on notice that they were not financially able to continue to complete the projects,” Gwynn said.

The FDOT notified the surety, which provides the bond on the project, that is responsible for bringing in a replacement contractor to complete the work.

It typically takes two to four months to bring a replacement contractor on board, Gwynn said.

In addition to the State Road 54 project, work also was stopped on the diverging diamond interchange project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75; and on the State Road 52 project, on State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41, including a portion of U.S. 41.

Work has resumed on the diverging diamond project, with Superior Construction handling the job. That’s the same company that’s building the realignment of State Road 52 in East Pasco.

“They jumped onto the diverging diamond. One thing they just recently did, it wasn’t really required of them in the contract, but for the Christmas holiday season, opened up an additional lane on State Road 56 to try to help with the merchants in the area and be able to provide a little better service during the shopping season,” Gwynn said.

The contractor expects to have the new configuration completed by summer 2022, Gwynn said.

The State Road 52 project is being handled by a company called PCS (previously known as Pepper). The work has begun, but there’s still about two years left on that project, the FDOT officials said.

“The one that’s given us the most challenge has been State Road 54, for a variety of reasons,” he said.

That work will be completed by Cone & Graham, which is the company that is building the county’s Ridge Road project and that built the State Road 56 extension, Gwynn said.

Gwynn also noted there are some traffic issues at the new leg of an intersection at Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 54, which has to do with an equipment issue. He said that is expected to be corrected in coming weeks.

The Pasco MPO — made up of representatives of Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey — is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County.

Published December 15, 2021

Pasco officials: Open Ridge Road extension ASAP

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Pasco County officials are pushing to open the Ridge Road extension to the Suncoast Parkway interchange, as soon as the road is ready.

But Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said that Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise may want to delay the opening.

“They may not have the tolling equipment in place. They may hold back, opening the road,” Mariano told his colleagues, during the board’s Nov. 9 meeting.

“If they don’t have the toll stuff on the roads ready, I think you guys agree, we should just open the road. Let the people start traveling. It’s the people’s money that built it, one way or the other, anyway. Let’s get it going,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Mike Moore agreed, putting it this way: “We need to open this, in the first of December. If they want to continue with holding this up, I will be out there with an orange vest and a flag. And, I’m the last person they want to see on that road, directing traffic every day.”

County Administrator Dan Biles told the board there are efforts underway to persuade Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise to change its position.

“The road is on the verge of being ready for traffic. We expect sometime in the next 30 days, the road — to include the interchange at the Suncoast (Parkway) — to be ready for traffic,” Biles said.

That would extend Ridge Road from Moon Lake Road all of the way to the Suncoast Parkway interchange.

“The one thing holding up finishing it up is the tolling equipment on the north side of Ridge Road —not, on the south side, because there’s a gantry on the south between Ridge and (State Road) 54, that already exists, already tolls at $1.07 a passenger vehicle.

“That tolling equipment (on the north side) may not be in until sometime next spring,” Biles said.

“Right now, the tolling authority is saying, ‘Hey, we want to wait until that’s in, to open it.’”

But Biles said the county’s position is and has been: “No. The second we can put traffic on Ridge Road and the interchange, we need to put traffic on Ridge Road and the interchange.

“Once it’s ready, it should be opened,” Biles reiterated. “It’s an immediate traffic reliever.”

If discussions don’t resolve the issue, the board authorized Commission Chairman Ron Oakley to write a letter to the Turnpike Enterprise, and others that he and Biles identify, to try to get the road opened as soon as possible.

In a related note, Moore told his colleagues that he has requested Rep. Ardian Zika and State Sen. Ed Hooper to  file a state appropriation request for $14 million to support phase two of the Ridge Road extension over to U.S. 41.

Both legislators have agreed to seek the funding, Moore said, which would speed completion of that segment.

“Hopefully, we’ll be hearing some good news, during the (legislative) session,” Moore said.

In other area roadwork news, the construction company Cone & Graham is expected in coming weeks to begin doing the completion work on a widening project on State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, according to an update from the District Seven office of the Florida Department of Transportation.

The construction company also will be doing work for Pasco County, at Eiland Boulevard, according to the information from FDOT.

Construction work on the widening of State Road 54 was halted by the previous construction company and the surety company is responsible for bringing the work to completion through a conclusion contractor.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

Work resumes on State Road 52 widening

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Construction has restarted on State Road 52, near the Suncoast Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes.

A new contractor, PCS Civil Inc., began work on Oct. 25.

The contractor is expected to spend a few weeks doing cleanup, surveying and other tasks necessary to safely resume operations, according to an update from the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) District Seven office.

Work on the project stopped on July 28, 2021, when the original contractor notified FDOT that it was halting work on the project. The state transportation department declared the contractor in default on Aug. 3.

Pipes await a crew on the south side right of way, along State Road 56. Construction again has started up on a project aimed at easing congestion at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

The FDOT requires its contracts to have bonds issued by a surety company.

The surety company was required to obtain a completion contractor and chose PCS Civil Inc.

The State Road 52 project calls for widening the road to a six-lane divided highway from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41.

The contract also includes widening U.S. 41 for approximately 1 mile, approaching the State Road 52 intersection. A 12-foot wide multi-use trail — to be built along the north side of State Road 52 — is another element of the project.

The estimated cost for the State Road 52 widening is $49.8 million, according to FDOT’s website.

While work has resumed on State Road 52, it is expected to begin again soon on the State Road 54 widening, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, according to the FDOT update.

The prospective completion contractor is sending the surety company an updated price proposal.

A completion contract is expected to be with the surety by Nov. 12, with execution of the contract to follow. Once that occurs, the contractor is expected to begin work within a week.

In the meantime, mowing and litter removal is expected to occur.

Another project that had been halted involves the construction of the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) project being built at the State Road 56 and Interstate 75 interchange.

That work stopped June 25, when the contractor informed FDOT it was halting work on the project. On July 1, FDOT declared the contractor in default.

Work resumed on Sept. 13, after Superior Construction Company Southeast LLC was selected by the surety company to complete the work.

The project, estimated at $33.6 million, is now expected to finished in summer 2022, according to FDOT’s website.

The project will reconfigure the State Road 56/I-75 interchange between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard.

The existing diamond interchange at the intersection will be converted to a DDI.

The main change will be to diverge, or cross, State Road 56 traffic to the left side of the road through the interchange, and then cross vehicles back over to the right side of the road on the opposite side of the interchange, according to a description on FDOT’s website.

The changes will help to alleviate traffic congestion to reduce travel time for motorists in this rapidly growing area.

A DDI was chosen for the State Road 56/I-75 interchange because of the proven ability of this traffic configuration to increase safety and capacity while using a large amount of the existing interchange footprint, including the existing bridge, according to FDOT.

The DDI also was chosen because of its ability to handle heavy left-turn volumes, such as the westbound to southbound movement from State Road 56 to southbound I-75.

For more information about these or other FDOT projects in Pasco or Hillsborough counties, visit FDOTtampabay.com.

Published November 10, 2021

Diverging Diamond work resumes

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Superior Construction Company Southeast LLC began working on the completion of the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) last week, at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Work activities in the first few weeks will involve cleanup, surveying, and other tasks needed to safely resume construction. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2022, according to information on the Florida Department of Transportation’s website.

Pipes await a crew on the south side right of way, along State Road 56. Construction starts up again in the creation of the diverging diamond road design. (Fred Bellet)

Activities last week were expected to include mobilization of labor, equipment and materials, erosion control, survey, jobsite cleanup of debris and office setup, according to an update provided by Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the District 7 office of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Minor pothole and erosion control repairs were completed last week by the interim maintenance contractor, the update adds, with maintenance responsibility expected to be fully transitioned to Superior by Sept. 20.

The project will reconfigure the I-75/State Road 56 interchange between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard, in Pasco County.

The existing diamond interchange will be modified and converted to a DDI.

The main change will be to diverge, or cross, State Road 56 traffic to the left side of the road through the interchange, and then cross vehicles back over to the right side of the road on the opposite side of the interchange.

The changes will help to alleviate traffic congestion at this interchange to reduce travel time for motorists in this rapidly growing area, according to information posted on FDOT’s website.

Crews again have begun work on the diverging diamond road design at State Road 56 and Interstate 75. Here, crews work on 1-75, under the State Road 56 overpass. Heavy equipment can be seen moving dirt.

A DDI was chosen for the I-75/State Road 56 interchange because of the proven ability of this traffic configuration to increase safety and capacity while using a large amount of the existing interchange footprint, including the existing bridge, according to FDOT.

The DDI also was chosen because of its ability to handle heavy left-turn volumes, such as the westbound to southbound movement from State Road 56 to southbound I-75.

The new interchange at State Road 56 will reduce vehicle delays by allowing traffic to enter the interstate without waiting at a left-turn signal. To do this, traffic is redirected from the right side of the bridge to the left side.

Signalized crossovers are positioned at each side of the interchange, and are designed to cross eastbound and westbound State Road 56 traffic with no turning movements at these two intersections. This design allows for more efficient signal timing, which reduces delay times, minimizes conflict points, and enables the interchange to more effectively handle higher volumes of traffic while eliminating the more serious crashes associated with a conventional interchange.

These types of interchanges operate under two-phase signal control, which reduces lost time, delays and queue lengths at traffic signals.

Safety features include lower design speeds between ramps and a reduction in the number of conflict points. The lower speeds result in less severe crashes.

The design also fosters increased safety for pedestrians and bicycles, and better sight distance at turns.

The expected benefits for the interchange are an increase in capacity and pedestrian safety while reducing vehicle delays and crashes. These benefits will be achieved by an increased number of lanes, improved pedestrian facilities, more efficient signal timings and reduced vehicle conflict points, the FDOT says.

Future project updates on the diverging diamond will be provided at FDOT’s website, at FDOTTampaBay.com/.

Carson also provided updates on other projects that were halted when DAB Constructors ceased operations.

State Road 52, Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41
The surety has received bids from prospective completion contractors on Sept. 9 and is evaluating the bids.

Quail Ridge requested additional delineation at entrance; additional barrels were placed on Sept. 17.

New Beginning Family Ministry requested additional mowing at their entrance, which was performed on Sept. 16.

Work continues on necessary pothole and silt fence repairs throughout the site.

State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
The surety responded to questions from prospective bidders, posting those responses on Sept. 14. Bids are expected to be received the end of September.

The surety’s subcontractor has been mowing, performing litter control and filling potholes at side streets and driveways throughout the project.

Emerald Striping is receiving school ahead sign panels to be installed by early next week. The flashing beacons for the signs are expected to be installed within three weeks to five weeks.

Also, FDOT maintenance crews have been onsite filling in washouts behind sidewalks project-wide.

Driveways and side streets milling was scheduled to begin on Sept. 18, with paving scheduled to begin this week.

Published September 22, 2021

Crews getting back at it, on Diverging Diamond interchange

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Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel was set to resume on Sept. 13, according to officials from the Florida Department of Transportation.

That news was part of an update released by Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’S District 7 office.

Work was halted in June, when D.A.B. Constructors notified FDOT that it was demobilizing from the project. The state transportation department then defaulted D.A.B., on July 1.

D.A.B. Contractors had seven projects in FDOT District 7, including three in Pasco County. After D.A.B. was defaulted on the diverging diamond project, it self-defaulted on the other Pasco projects, which are on State Road 52 and State Road 54.

The surety company must now complete those projects.

Carson provided a Sept. 10 update regarding the status of the projects.

Diverging Diamond
The completion contract has been executed by Superior Construction and is with the surety for final signatures.

Superior Construction has been given a Notice to Proceed from the surety, and contract work is expected to recommence on Sept. 13.

Surveyors have been onsite gathering survey information to support the proposed Sept. 13 start date.

The interim maintenance contractor (DBI) performed mowing in the two ponds on the south side of State Road 56. Slope mowing was completed on the northeast quadrant adjacent to the northbound Interstate 75 on-ramp.

Slope mowing is currently underway on the interior slopes of the southbound on- and off-ramps.

A project-wide litter pickup cycle was completed.

State Road 52, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41
The surety received bids from prospective completion contractors on Sept. 9, and the bids are being evaluated.

The FDOT performed pothole and silt fence repairs, to address urgent needs.

An upcoming mowing cycle is planned to start in two weeks.

State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
The surety put out an advertisement for bids on Sept. 9, with bids expected to be received the week of Sept. 23.

The FDOT’s maintenance crews have repaired potholes throughout the project and at the following side streets and driveways: McDonald’s driveway, Lado Drive, Loury Drive, Ashton Oaks Boulevard and Foxwood Boulevard.

Drop-offs have been addressed project-wide by inspection staff and maintenance crews.

The FDOT’s asphalt maintenance contractor is schedule to pave the previously listed side streets and driveways beginning Sept. 16.

Traffic markings maintenance has been completed at Meadow Pointe Boulevard and State Road 54.

Concrete barriers were adjusted at New River Road and State Road 54 and the Morris Bridge Road intersection, in front of CVS.

Emerald Striping is being scheduled to install flashing beacon ‘school ahead’ signs at New River Academy.

While the FDOT continues to address the state road projects that are behind schedule, State Sen. Danny Burgess told members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce that the state is seeing what it can do to streamline, in some way, the process of road contracting.

That way, if something like this happens again, the DOT would have additional options, such as going to with Bidder No. 2 on a project, he said.

“We’re going to look at some outside-the-box opportunities,” Burgess said.

Published September 15, 2021

State roads department offers update on halted Pasco projects

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Florida Department of Transportation District Seven Secretary David Gwynn recently gave an update on the status of state road projects that recently halted operations.

Gwynn gave the update during the Aug. 12 board meeting of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Pasco MPO — made up of representatives of Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey — is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County.

Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

Gwynn told the MPO board members: “We had seven projects in our district, three of them in Pasco County, that DAB Contractors either were defaulted on — which was the DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) — or self-defaulted, which included State Road 52 and State Road 54.

“After that occurred, we met with our surety company — more or less the bondholder.

“I can tell you the surety has been very responsive so far,” he said.

He expressed confidence that once the surety company awards a bid on the contract, the contractor will “try to get this project not only going, but accelerating as quickly as possible.”

Gwynn also noted: “We’re also working with our maintenance contractor to ensure that the project sites are secured. I’ve noticed recently that some of the vegetation in some of the areas is starting to grow pretty high, so we’re out there with our forces, mowing them. In fact, we’re doing (State Road) 54, I think, today.

“The surety has let me know the direction they’ve given their people is that they need to get these contracts going as soon as possible because they’re also held to the same penalties as DAB would have been held to for being late. In other words, the end date of the contract doesn’t change. They’ll get penalized for every day they don’t meet, based on that original contract.

“I’m very optimistic that very soon we’ll have contractors on board working on those projects.

“When you look at some of the other construction projects we have around in Pasco County and around the district, a lot of the contractors are ahead of schedule. The State Road 52 realignment project is almost a year ahead of schedule, with Superior Construction.

“The Overpass Road Interchange is ahead of construction, so I think there’s capacity out there to get other good contractors and get these jobs moving forward.”

Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the FDOT District Seven Office, provided an Aug. 13 update regarding the status of the projects.

The surety company and the FDOT have executed a takeover agreement regarding the diverging diamond project, as of Aug. 12, according to Carson’s update.

The receipt of bids for the project had been scheduled for Aug. 12, but was moved back to Aug. 18, to provide more information and give more contractors an opportunity to compete for the work.

Mowing and general maintenance has been completed throughout the project limits.

Also, the number of temporary traffic control devices have been reduced to the minimum required to maintain a safe work zone, the update adds.

Regarding the State Road 52 project, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41: A representative with the surety met with an FDOT representative onside to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the documentation requested by the surety and the takeover documents are with the surety, for its execution.

Regarding the widening of State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road: A representative with the surety met with a FDOT representative onsite to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the project documentation requested by the surety. The takeover documents are currently with the surety for its execution.

The FDOT has completed mowing throughout the project area. Additional maintenance of driveway access to business on the west side of Eiland/State Road 54 is planned to be completed within the next two weeks, according to the Aug. 13 update.

The surety will be responsible for meeting the original contract requirements, and the FDOT retains the responsibility to ensure the surety meets its obligations, the FDOT document adds.

Published August 18, 2021

Diverging Diamond is delayed

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Work on the diverging diamond project at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel has been halted, and the project is not expected to be completed until after the holidays.

That news was announced by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore during the Pasco County Commission’s July 6 meeting.

Moore told his colleagues that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had found the company doing the work — D.A.B. Constructors — in default.

Kris Carson, department spokeswoman for FDOT’s District 7 office, explained the series of events in an email.

This is an aerial of a diverging diamond project. Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

She said that in November 2020, FDOT “issued a Notice of Intent to Default (NOI) to the contractor due to concerns they were not proceeding at the pace required to meet the contractual completion date.”

In its response, D.A.B. Constructors “included a recovery schedule showing a project completion date of October 2021,” Carson wrote.

Based on that schedule, FDOT “established interim milestone dates that the contractor would need to meet in order to avoid being defaulted,” Carson’s email continues.

“One of the milestones was set for June 28, 2021, and the contractor did not meet this milestone.

“On June 25, 2021, D.A.B. notified the Department (FDOT) they were demobilizing from the project. As a result of missing the milestone, the Department (FDOT) defaulted D.A.B. on July 1, 2021,” Carson’s email says.

She also noted that “at the time of the default, D.A.B.’s schedule submitted to the Department (FDOT) showed a final completion date of Jan. 6, 2022, and the interchange would be in its final configuration in early November 2021. However, interim milestones on the projects critical path were not met to achieve that schedule. D.A.B. demobilized on June 25, 2021, which would further delay the project.”

Carson goes on to say that FDOT “will work with the surety company who is required to provide a replacement contractor to complete the project. At this time, FDOT is unsure how long it will take the surety to procure the replacement contractor but will work diligently to move the process as quickly as possible.”

During the July 6 county board meeting, Moore told his colleagues that motorists driving through the area likely would have noticed the work stoppage at that location.

“The company swore up and down they would get this done. They would meet the milestones. The timelines. They were moving along nicely, in the beginning, unfortunately, they slowed down again,” Moore said.

Despite the delay, Moore reiterated his support for the diverging diamond.

“It’s such a great project. It’s going to have huge benefits,” Moore said.

Still, the county commissioner expressed frustration.

“It’s unfortunate. It really is. Because who pays the price? It’s our citizens — that’s their taxes and they expect these projects to be done in a timely manner,” Moore said.

In her email, Carson said FDOT is “empathetic to impacts any project delays may cause to motorists, residents, and businesses and will make adjustments to traffic signals and any traffic control devices to help accommodate extra traffic volume” that’s typical during the holiday season.

She said D.A.B. is the prime contractor on two other projects in Pasco County: State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road; and State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41.

“The default does not apply to these state road projects,” Carson wrote.

Published July 14, 2021

Electric cooperative donates $400,000 to Kirkland Academy

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The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) has donated $400,000 to help Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation to purchase equipment for the school, now under construction off Curley Road, in East Pasco.

The donation “represents an investment in the next generation of engineers, IT professionals, electrical linemen, and entrepreneurs,” according to a news release from Pasco County Schools.

This is an aerial view of ongoing work at the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, a new high school that will help to prepare students for a wide variety of career paths. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The school district plans to open the new school in the fall of 2022. It will offer programs aimed to equip students “with 21st-Century employability skills and entrepreneurial experiences to enhance their long-term career prospects,” the release says.

The school is expected to have an enrollment of 1,000 students.

Its programs will include digital technology, engineering, biomedical science, transportation, building technology and others, the release adds.

The donation from the electric cooperative will go toward buying the equipment needed to prepare Kirkland Academy students for high-skill, high-wage careers.

“With technology rapidly changing particularly in the utility sector, WREC felt it essential to invest in an educational program that focuses on the latest in technology and innovation,” said Billy Brown, the electric cooperative’s chief executive officer.

The 184,000-square-foot school is within the electric cooperative’s five-county service area.

Having one of the largest employers in Pasco County partnering with the school district will help to ensure the success of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning said in the release.

“We have big plans for the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, and it’s great to see that Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative is as excited about it as we are,” Browning said. “This generous donation will enable students to have the kinds of cutting edge, hands-on educational experiences that will be a distinguishing feature of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.”

At a school board meeting last year, the team working on the design and construction of the school provided details about the site and plans, as well as offering a glimpse of its planned programs.

The 104-acre school site is about 3 miles due east of Interstate 75.

The campus is projected to cost approximately $70 million, according to district officials. And, the school will not have an attendance zone. Like Wendell Krinn Technical High School, the new Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation will attract students based on interest in its varied programs.

It’s at the northwest edge of Kirkland Ranch, on Curley Road, at the eastern edge of Wesley Chapel. It’s about 3 miles north of Watergrass Elementary School.

The site is at more than 40 feet of elevation, and includes an existing pond and oak trees.

A number of career and technical education labs are planned, including those designed for digital media, engineering robotics, biomedical and patient care.

Automotive, diesel, welding, construction, electrical and cybersecurity programs are planned, as well.

The diesel program will be one of a few in the state.

Those programs are in addition to core academic classes and electives.

Students will be able to learn about entrepreneurship and business, as well as foreign language, math and science.

In addition to the high school, the school district is planning for the future. A large portion of the property, east of the high school, has been maintained for a future kindergarten through eighth grade school.

Published June 09, 2021

State road projects in Pasco approach $290 million

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During a recent transportation Zoom briefing with the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Thibault, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, provided an overview of projects that are in various stages of progress in Pasco County.

Here’s a recap of information from his PowerPoint presentation and of his comments, project by project.

(Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

Diverging Diamond, at State Road 56
Project description: Converts from a standard diamond interchange to a diverging diamond interchange

  • Ongoing work is occurring on all four quadrants of the interchange.
  • The traffic pattern shift will occur this fall.
  • Project cost: $33 million

Estimated completion: Late 2021

Thibault’s comments: “The DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) was chosen for this interchange to increase safety and capacity, through an increased number of lanes; improving pedestrian facilities; more efficient signal timings; and, reducing vehicle conflicts.

“Work is occurring on all four quadrants, rebuilding the interchange ramps.

“Work is taking place in the median of the existing State Road 56 bridge over Interstate 75.

“Various traffic shifts are taking place and will continue to take place on State Road 56, on both sides of Interstate 75, as the contractor builds the improvements necessary to make the conversion to the diverging diamond configuration.

“Traffic is anticipated to be switched to the new diverging diamond pattern in the fall of 2021.

“The current estimated completion date is later this year.

“As many of you know, this project has overcome some errors and periods of insufficient resources by the contracting team, but milestones have been met related to the project completion, to ensure that sufficient progress is being made.

“The department understands that this is an important corridor in Pasco County and will continue our efforts to guide the contractor to complete the project, as quickly as possible.”

State Road 54 widening, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road
Project description: State Road 54 is being widened from two lanes to four lanes, with a median

  • Project cost: $42.5 million
  • Estimated completion: Late 2021

Thibault’s comments: “Widening of State Road 54, as shown here in this aerial from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road, will widen the roadway from two lanes to a four-lane highway, with a median. Long stretches of new roadway are currently in use, with bi-directional traffic shifting either to the future eastbound or westbound pavement. Drainage, roadway and utility construction continues throughout the project area.

“Additional traffic switches will be coming, as new roadway segments are completed.

“In addition, a sidewalk will be built on the north side of the road, and a 10-foot-wide, multi-use trail will be built on the south side.”

New Interstate-75 interchange at Overpass Road
Project description: Existing bridge at Overpass Road was removed. Construction has begun on a new bridge.

  • Overpass Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes, between Interstate 75 and Old Pasco Road. It will be widened to six lanes, from I-75 to Boyette Road.
  • Project cost: $64 million for this design-build project
  • Estimated completion: November 2022

Thibault’s comments: “This design-build project is to construct a new interchange approximately 3 ½ miles, south of State Road 52 in Pasco County.

“Overpass Road is closed, between Boyette and Old Pasco roads. It’s scheduled to reopen in February of 2022.

“Blair Drive has been realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road. McKendry Road has been realigned to connect with Boyette.

“The entrance to Wesley Chapel District Park from Overpass Road has been permanently closed.

“The entrance ramp construction has begun on all four quadrants.

“The project is progressing well.

“The new diamond interchange will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

State Road 52, near U.S. 41
Project description: Widening of State Road 52, from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41.

Widening State Road 52 to a six-lane divided highway; includes the widening of U.S. 41 approaching State Road 52, in each direction

  • Project also consists of building stormwater ponds, installing drainage pipes, building roadway base and relocating utilities.
  • Project cost: $49.7 million

Thibault’s comments:  “This is close to a $50 million project and the estimated completion is February of 2023, which is currently ahead of schedule that’s posted on the project website.”

U.S. 41, north of Connerton
Project description: Widening of U.S. 41, from north of Connerton to State Road 52, widens U.S. 41 into a four-lane divided highway

  • Project cost: $16.8 million
  • Estimated completion: February 2023

Thibault’s comments: “The project clearing is almost completed.

“Utility relocation and erosion control measures are underway.

“The drainage and excavation activities are set to begin shortly.

“Again, currently ahead of the schedule posted on the project website.”

Widening and new alignment of State Road 52
Project description: Widens State Road 52 to a four-lane divided highway and realigns the corridor from Uradco Place to west of Fort King Road

  • Miles of new roadway have been constructed.
  • A lane reduction recently has been put in place along eastbound State Road 52, from I-75 to allow for construction at the west end of the project.
  • Project cost: $81.4 million
  • Estimated completion: August 2023

Thibault’s comments: “It is progressing well and is slightly ahead of schedule.”

Published May 12, 2021