Wesley Chapel Roads Update

Wesley Chapel:

1. The widening of Bruce B. Downs from County Line Road to S.R. 54 should begin within the next couple of months and is estimated to take 18 to 24 months to complete. This widening will expand Bruce B. Downs to six lanes. (I have heard rumors that eventually it will be 8 lanes.)  It is interesting to note that many years ago Bruce B. Downs was referred to as the "road to nowhere".  Well that has certainly changed with the very popular development of New Tampa!  Now, there is a new "road to nowhere".  Read on!
2. Extension of S.R. 56 through Wiregrass to Meadow Pointe Boulevard. This extension should begin before October 2007 and be completed by October 2008. Designed for six lanes, this road will be at least four lanes with this extension, with possible future widening to six lanes.
3. The widening of S.R. 54 from Bruce B. Downs to Curley Road. According to my contact at the Engineering Services Department for Pasco County, 90% of the design is complete, and acquisition of right of way has begun. The start date on this widening is the end of 2008, with an estimate of 2 years to completion. This road is already at gridlock especially near what I refer to as "malfunction junction"  (S.R. 54 at Bruce B. Downs, & I-75).
4. The controversial request to have Kinnan Road in the New Tampa area of Hillsborough County extended to connect to Mansfield Boulevard in Pasco County has been roadblocked. The connection can't occur without the approval/permission of Pasco County!  Assistant County Administrator for Pasco County is unwilling to permit this connection.  Staff Writer for the St. Petersburg Times, Phuong Nguyen has reported that there is only 60 feet of unpaved roadway between the two roads.  Pasco County has been requesting that Kinnan Rd. connect to Meadow Pointe Boulevard which is designed for the heavier traffic.  So, for now at least the Kinnan Road connection remains the "new" road to nowhere.  Mansfield Boulevard is already experiencing higher traffic counts as a result of the opening of the new middle school and high school in Wiregrass.  (Temporary routing of bus traffic until S.R. 56 is extended.)
5. Negotiations between the developers of Wiregrass and Pasco County continue over the county's concern over its impact on the traffic flow. 
6. Additionally, there are discussions between Lennar and Pasco County over changes to Curley Road from Elam Road South to S.R. 54, with a possibility of rerouting Curley to meet at Meadow Pointe Boulevard on S.R. 54.  Those negotiations will probably need to be resolved so Lennar can obtain approval for its Epperson Ranch development on the west side of Curley Road.

Note: The information on this update on these road improvements was provided by my discussions with Pasco County representatives.  As we all know, these dates are subject to change!