New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Road Improvements Update

New Tampa: (Hillsborough Co.)

1. The widening of Cross Creek Boulevard to four lanes is underway. The additional lights to be installed at Arbor Greene and Cory Lake Isles will also be a welcome relief. The widening of Cross Creek Boulevard east from Cory Lake Isles to Morris Bridge Road is not included in this project.
2. The status of the proposed Toll Road from Bruce B. Downs to I-275 remains uncertain. Currently this project is with the Tampa-Hillsbough County Expressway Authority. Broiled in controversy, this Board recently experienced the sudden resignation of its director, underwent a state audit and the auditors had 13 findings. There have been calls by state senators to "disband" this group or at the very least to "reconstitute" it. Due to the high cost of this East-West Connector Road, the Turnpike Authority previously "declined" participation in the road, saying that it would be the highest toll in the entire state of florida. Lastly, this road will be the first of its type in Florida, and would operate as a private toll road.
3. The widening of Bruce B. Downs in Hillsborough County will be a slow go. The first section of the widening (between Pebble Creek Drive and Palm Springs Blvd) isn't expected to begin until 2008.
4. The previous proposal to extend Kinnan St. north into Meadow Pointe connecting to Mansfield was "roadblocked" by Bipin Parikh, Assistant Pasco County Administrator, indicating that a more appropriate connection would be to Meadow Pointe Blvd., as it is designed for higher traffic.

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.
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.
4. The controversial request to have Kinnan Road in Hillsborough County extended to connect to Mansfield Boulevard from Hillsborough County has been quiet. The connection can't occur without the approval/permission of Pasco County!

Note: I appreciate the kind cooperation given me by the Pasco County Engineering Department who updated me on the status of these road projects for Wesley Chapel.