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$500 Million In Road Work To Make Commutes Easier

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By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: November 2, 2008

NORTH TAMPA - North Hillsborough County and south Pasco County motorists experience some of the worst rush-hour congestion in the region, but help is coming.

Nearly $500 million worth of projects are under way or poised to start over the next few years in the area between Wesley Chapel and New Tampa and from U.S. 41 to Morris Bridge Road.

That might induce a collective sigh of relief from congestion-weary commuters, but there's also a downside: Construction delays on many major roads will continue for years.

"I think people up there will tell you it's tough to get around now," said Bob Clifford, planning director at the Department of Transportation's Tampa office.

The surge in road work, which started this year, is partly because of years of housing growth that, in turn, led to tens of millions of dollars in developer fees and contributions toward road work. The $50 million State Road 56 extension, from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to Morris Bridge Road, is almost completely developer-funded. Meanwhile, the state and Pasco and Hillsborough counties, along with the city, have stockpiled millions more for road work.

Projects on the horizon include next year's $104 million widening of Bruce B. Downs, from Palm Springs Boulevard to Pebble Creek Drive, and the $21 million widening of Wesley Chapel Boulevard north of S.R. 56, starting in 2012.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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