After more than two years of reconstruction, U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes has more, much-needed lanes.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) removed construction barrels off the highway in early October, opening the new lanes on U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.
The widening project, which expanded U.S. 41 to a four-lane divided highway, begins at Connerton Boulevard, heading north to State Road 52. Now, U.S. 41 is a four-lane divided highway from north of Ehren Cutoff and ending at State Road 52.
The $16.9-million project began March 12, 2021 and added nearly three miles of new lanes that go past northern Land O’ Lakes subdivisions such as Tierra Del Sol and Asbel, and AdventHealth Connerton. The project also included drainage improvements, and roadway signage and markings.
A shared-use path was constructed on the east side of U.S. 41 and connected to the paved path that ends just south of the Wilderness Lake Preserve subdivision.
Also about two years ago, an extension of Asbel Road was added to the east side of U.S. 41 and connected to Central Boulevard — the road that leads to Pasco County Jail. The road also wraps around the new Fire Station 22, which is now under construction.
The addition of this extension led FDOT to install a new four-way stoplight.
The new four-lane U.S. 41 will come in handy, as the county and FDOT readies to extend the Ridge Road Extension even further, bringing it from Sunlake Boulevard to U.S. 41 and Connerton Boulevard.
That project, which is Phase 2 of the Ridge Road extension, is slated for completion in late 2025.
As for State Road 52, the widening to a six-lane divided highway from the Suncoast Parkway to east of U.S. 41 and approximately one-mile total of widening on U.S. 41 approaching the State Road 52 intersection in each direction is still underway. According to the FDOT website, completion on that $49.9-million project is tentatively set for early 2024.
Following that in 2026, the county and FDOT will then widen State Road 52 headed east even further, expanding it to a four-lane divided highway up to Ehren Cutoff.
Published October 11, 2023
