Pasco County Celebrates Completion Of SR 56 Extension

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL — The new 6-mile long, four-lane divided extension of State Road 56 is now open in Pasco County.

Pasco County and Florida Department of Transportation officials celebrated the project's completion Tuesday. The project, extending SR 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301, was completed several months sooner than originally planned.

FDOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said the contractor, Cone and Graham Inc., brought in extra crews to finish the project early. Construction on the $59.7 million extension of SR 56 begin in February 2017.

Funding came from various sources including the county, the City of Zephyrhills and the FDOT. Additionally, property owners donated the land for the rights of way.

"This truly was a partnership with everybody in the community," she said.

County Commissioner Mike Moore said the new road provides a critical link between Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel.

"It's about a better quality of life here for our citizens," said Moore. "It gives them the opportunity to not to have to sit in traffic as much."

The four-lane divided roadway includes a 10-foot wide multi-use trail on the south side of the road, a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side of the road and 7-foot-wide bicycle lanes on the shoulders in each direction.

There are new signalized intersections on Morris Bridge Road where the new SR 56 crosses and on U.S. 301 that ties into the extension.

Officials turn out to celebrate the opening of the State Road 56 extension.