TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

S.R. 56 Road Work May Start Next Month

ADVERTISEMENT

By KEVIN WIATROWSKI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 22, 2008

WESLEY CHAPEL - Construction on State Road 56 east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard could begin March 12, the project coordinator said Thursday.

GoodForest LLC, the company developing the Shops at Wiregrass mall, plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new road on that day, said Jim Richardson, vice president of Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

Forest City and West Palm Beach-based Goodman Co. are jointly developing the 800,000-square-foot shopping center at S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs.

Forest City and Goodman will coordinate work on the $24 million extension. Meadow Pointe developer Don Buck and the Porter family, which owns Wiregrass Ranch, will put up the money for the project, Richardson said.

Pasco County officials last week approved plans for the first leg of the S.R. 56 extension, from Bruce B. Downs to Meadow Pointe Boulevard. At the time, the developers said they were hoping to begin work March 10 on the 18-month project.

That would let S.R. 56 open about the time county officials begin widening State Road 54 between Bruce B. Downs and Curley Road. County Administrator John Gallagher expects the S.R. 56 extension to offer drivers an alternative to S.R. 54 when construction starts there.

Richardson expects to have the six-lane-wide western end of the road open by the time his mall opens at the end of October. The rest of the three-mile road will be finished during 2009.

GoodForest took over the road work after the housing market collapse forced Pulte Home Corp. to back out as lead developer for Wiregrass Ranch.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201 or kwiatrowski@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT