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Motorist Patience To Be Rewarded

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By SHERRI LONON

In The Loop

Published: December 17, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Motorists who have been anticipating the long-awaited opening of the Lake Patience Road extension into the Oakstead subdivision won't have to hold their breath much longer.

Bob Shepherd, chief project manager for the county, said work should be done this week. The road, however, may not open to traffic until re-striping work is completed on Lake Patience up to U.S. 41.

The $532,000 project was given notice to proceed Aug. 18. The 1,100-foot extension will connect Lake Patience Road within the Oakstead subdivision to the dead-end Lake Patience Road that originates at U.S. 41.

Work on the extension initially was to begin in 2006 when Oakstead Elementary School opened. The school, at 19925 Lake Patience Road, is presently accessible only from Oakstead Boulevard.

. Shepherd said the county had planned for a Dec. 5 opening but it was delayed because of a digging conflict with Progress Energy.
Oakstead Elementary is preparing to make sure traffic flow in front of the school is smooth and that students are safe, Principal Tammy Kimpland said. Once the road opens, Kimpland said parents and students will find themselves dealing with traffic coming from two directions.

"We're having a traffic study done," Kimpland said. The study could show the need to have a licensed traffic controller to direct the flow of cars in the morning and afternoon.

"Our buses will still come in from Oakstead Boulevard, but everyone else will have the option to come in the other way," she said.

Kimpland said she is awaiting word from the state DOT on the need for traffic assistance at the school.

The extension is the first leg of the county's plans for Lake Patience, Shepherd said. Right-of-way acquisition is under way for phase two of the project, which will increase the width of the road to four lanes.

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