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Suncoast Parkway Project To Be Awarded This Month

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By B.C. MANION, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 3, 2008

LUTZ - The contract for the design and construction of an interchange on the Suncoast Parkway at Lutz-Lake Fern Road is expected to be awarded this month.

It likely will be several months, however, before passers-by notice activity at the site, said Joanne Hurley, a spokeswoman for Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, which oversees the Suncoast Parkway. The contract being awarded for the work is a design-build contract, Hurley explained. "The first six months or so will be the design."

Christopher Warren, the deputy executive director and chief operating officer for the Turnpike Enterprise, is committed to having the interchange open before the new public high school opens on Lutz-Lake Fern Road, Hurley said. The high school is slated to open in the fall 2009.

One advantage for this project is that no additional right of way had to be acquired, Hurley said.

Acquiring right of way can be a lengthy part of any road project, but in this case the land needed for the interchange was purchased when the Suncoast Parkway was being planned.

The Lutz-Lake Fern Road interchange will cost approximately $10 million, based on preliminary estimates.

In addition to the interchange and high school projects, Lutz-Lake Fern Road also is slated to be widened to four lanes.

The first phase of the project widens the road from 1,000 feet west of the Suncoast Parkway to the new school entrance. That phase will be completed before the high school opens.
Design options for the second phase of widening Lutz-Lake Fern Road east toward North Dale Mabry Highway are still being studied, said Steve Valdez, spokesman for Hillsborough County.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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