The Laker/Lutz News

Wirt Road

State road projects will ease congestion

By

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

Equestrian center brings vision to life

By

Last year, Jim and Heather Fitzpatrick had the vision of creating an equestrian center for the East Pasco community.

Blazing Saddles Ranch, at 10219 Wirt Road in Dade City, has made that vision a reality.

J.R. Reeher of Logan, New Mexico has been on the professional bull-riding circuit and now brings his professional rodeo experience to the Blazing Saddles Ranch on Wirt Road.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

The Fitzpatricks purchased the 25-acre property in May and, by August, they had transformed the property from a farm to a full-service horse ranch.

“We’re on the cusp of booming Wesley Chapel,” Jim Fitzpatrick said, “so this is more or less a stall for my wife, and the rest is for everybody else.”

Catered toward adults and children, the facility is an ideal setting for residents scattered across Dade City, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

While many venues are geared toward one equestrian discipline, Blazing Saddles offers multiple specialties.

Riders can learn English dressage and western dressage. Or, they can try western-style and hunter-jumper.

Full board and pasture is also available.

Blazing Saddles, though, is more than just a ranch with a large riding arena. In addition to a 10-stall horse barn, a gazebo and patio will soon be available to accommodate weddings, corporate retreats and even pony parties.

Eight-year-old Amina wears a pink fly-mask in support of breast cancer awareness.

Plans are also in store to build an open field cross-country course on the property.

Essentially, Blazing Saddles offers “everything from soup to nuts,” said barn manager Karen Rezabek.

“There is not one need we can’t meet,” Rezabek said. “If we have to go get your horse for you, we can do that, too.”

The ranch, interestingly, is an ode to the classic 1974 Mel Brooks-directed Western satire film bearing the same name.

Enter the facility, and you’ll witness an aura heavy on family, hospitality and equestrian expertise.

It all starts with the facility’s tight-knit group of staff and trainers.

Each has their own skillsets, and various specialties.

Among the most captivating is J.R. Reeher, a former rodeo cowboy who once toured on the Professional Bull Riders circuit.

The New Mexico native with Dade City ties is described as a “horse whisperer” of sorts.

Karen Miller, a San Antonio winter resident from Massachusetts, kicks up some dust as she and 16-year-old Rue work on the horse’s ‘loping’ proficiency.

He breaks in young horses and retrains “troubled” ones.

Put more simply, he can “work a horse.”

“You’ve always got to have one cowboy tucked away in a barn,” Reeher said, with a smirk.

More importantly, he fills a giant void, said Rezabek.

“We were fortunate that we found him,” the barn manager said. “He puts all the training rides on, he’s bridling the horses for restarting. He does a lot of colt-starting.

“He’s a jack-of-all-trades.”

There’s also Krystina Hemphill, who specializes in hunter-jumper equitation. Likewise, she prepares young riders for local competitions and showcases.

Meanwhile, the other staff includes Amy Epperson, who teaches dressage, and Karen Miller, who handles speed pattern racing, known as gymkhana.

Nine-year-old Jayden Lincoln, of Bradenton, rides 17-year-old Dolly, as the young rider practices putting the horse into a trot in one of the corrals at Blazing Saddles on Wirt Road. Jayden is learning basic horsemanship, along with care and grooming of the animal. The riding complex features English Hunter/Jumper and Western Dressage.

“We all kind of work together and feed off each other,” Hemphill said. “We’ve got a good thing going here.”

At Blazing Saddles, it all comes down to instructing proper horsemanship.

Heather Fitzpatrick, who sells real estate by trade, said the purpose of the ranch is to help aspiring riders correctly learn the fundamentals.

“I think our philosophy is that we want to build a good foundation, and then go from there.” she said. “Lay the foundation — make sure it’s right — and then let them do the discipline they want.”

“Everybody needs the basics,” Rezabek added. “The good thing is that we have a very solid basic foundation.  We also wanted to be well-rounded, so it’s a one-stop shop.”

Ultimately, Blazing Saddles Ranch wants to be a place “for people to feel comfortable” via an open, welcoming environment.

“It’s a really good atmosphere,” Hemphill said. “Everybody’s very laid back, everybody’s very helpful. They’re not afraid to step in and help when needed. There’s a good camaraderie around here.”

Meantime, the facility will be hosting Gene Cox Horsemanship clinics throughout January, February and March.

There, participants will learn to communicate with a horse, and fine-tune riding techniques.

One-day jumping clinics and other camps are also on the horizon, Rezabek said.

For more information about Blazing Saddles Ranch, call Karen Rezabek at (813)793-7696.

Published January 11, 2017