Widening of SR 54 to begin

The project to expand the road from four to six lanes should take about a year.

By CHUIN_WEI YAP, Times Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2008

LAND O'LAKES - The long awaited widening of State Road 54 in central Pasco begins in two weeks.

For years, commuters and residents have awaited the expansion of the road - Pasco's busiest east-west artery - from four to six lanes between U.S. 41 and Interstate 75.

On Tuesday, a sign set up beside the eastbound lanes of SR 54 announced: "Work to start Feb. 3."

The Richard E. Jacobs Group, which is paying for the $17-million road work as part of its Cypress Creek Town Center mall, confirmed that the sign refers to the widening project.

The project is divided into two sections, said a representative of WilsonMiller, planners for the Jacobs Group.

The first section, from I-75 to the vicinity of County Road 54, is expected to be completed by Aug. 31, said Jack Knowlton, of WilsonMiller. The mall is scheduled to open in fall 2008.

The second section, which would take the six lanes all the way to U.S. 41, would be completed by January 2009, Knowlton said.

"The two projects are actually going on simultaneously," he said. "From the public's view, it's going to look like one job."

Here's a bonus: Drivers aren't likely to be shunted down one lane of traffic during construction.

Knowlton said only one lane in each direction will be shaved from its current 12-foot width to 11 feet.

WilsonMiller isn't expecting to close lanes any time except on some nights.

The expansion would be inward, meaning the extra lane is added to the vacant land in the road's median.

This means the work is going to be somewhat easier than similar projects in more built-up, urban areas.

"It's not like we're completely redoing the road," Knowlton said. "We're just adding a lane, but not changing the geometry of the road."

The project needed coordination among three parties: the state Department of Transportation owns the road; Pasco County is managing the project; and the Jacobs Group is paying for its construction.

Chuin-Wei Yap can be reached at cyap@sptimes.com or 813909-4613.

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 22:09:04]