“All this growth has created a lot of traffic, and these roads are very important to move this extra traffic,” said Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, who attended the Florida Department of Transportation’s ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening of the project’s newly realigned state road.
The project team eased congestion by constructing a new 7-mile, four-lane urban roadway while focusing on driver and pedestrian safety through its improved traffic pattern. The team used 161,544 square yards of concrete pavement and 45,400 tons of asphalt pavement to complete the new roadway, which was started in 2019. Superior’s crews also constructed 58,660 linear feet of a closed storm sewer system.
“Pasco’s population has grown by nearly 30 percent since 2010. Projects like these don’t just improve connectivity; they ensure Florida’s once rural communities have the transportation infrastructure in place to support their economic development,” said Project Manager Toby Mazzoni.
The project’s scope also included the construction of stormwater management facilities and floodplain compensation sites, including 18 retention ponds. In addition, the team built six bridge box culverts, retaining walls (sheet pile walls and MSE walls), concrete curbs, and sidewalks along the new state road. Additional enhancements include signage and pavement markings, signalization, lighting, and landscaping.
