The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Measure intended to improve flow on Bruce B. Downs

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Pasco County is making improvements on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, at the intersection of State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, to enhance traffic flow and safety.

The county is extending the length of the farthest left-hand turning lane, to accommodate more cars waiting to turn west onto State Road 54.

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s farthest left-turn lane turning west onto State Road 54, will be extended to accommodate more vehicles. Two other median modifications also are being made nearby. (Brian Fernandes)

The county also will be adding a traffic signal at Eagleston and Bruce B. Downs boulevards. Currently, there is just a median there. There will be a left-turn lane at the intersection to enable cars heading south on Bruce B. Downs to make a U-turn to head north.

The $500,000 project is a means of preventing motorists from crossing six lanes of traffic to get from one commercial plaza on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to another commercial plaza on the east side of the road.

“The project was initiated after a safety study was performed recommending the closure of the first median opening south of SR 54/CR 54,” said David Botello, of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Motorists leaving the plaza at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s west side, now must cross six lanes in order to get into the Publix plaza, on the east side. By closing the median, this traffic would be redirected to the new signal at Eagleston, or onto State Road 54, in order to get to the Publix center.

The Florida Department of Transportation is taking on the project and would close off this median.

Push-button pedestrian signal detectors, countdown pedestrian signal heads, curb ramps and marked crosswalks would be installed at the intersection.

The project is currently in the design phase and construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2021.

Published December 11, 2019

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mr. Brian Fermandez:
    I have read different articles in your newspaper about the project to improve Bruce B.Downs at S.R. 54- Your article on the Dec. 11, 2019 was great.
    The turn right onto S.R.54 used to have two right turn lanes, now there is just one.
    Regardless how many right turn lanes we have this is still a problem.
    The side street behind Speedway and Taco Bell, the automobiles that turn right onto Bruce B. Down
    ignore the “RIGHT TURN ONLY” sign.
    One or more automobiles at a time will block the right turn lane to go left on S.R.54.
    So we have to wait a couple light changes so we can turn right onto S.R. 54.
    I have seen some Right/Left turn lanes have some rubber pylons to separate these lanes.
    It would be a great improvement for us having to turn right.

    • Thank you for reaching out with your inquiry. I’ve driven down that region where Bruce B. Downs Boulevard intersects with State Road 54, just to understand how that area is set up. I can understand the frustration motorists have when trying to make right or left turns on the constantly busy stretch of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. Hopefully the new modifications will help motorists held up in traffic.

      -Brian

  2. I was featured on ABC Action News about this project. I contacted Pasco County Commissioners Office FDOT District Seven Managers and did a poll online about changing the open median. Venkat Vattikuti, Pasco County Traffic Operations Manager, assured me that his six months of service has touched base on many safety issues all around Pasco County and this project was green lighted months ago. I’ve since suggested better improvements to the existing plan and am waiting on whether they push forward with any of it.

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