Lutz NEWS
ee r F
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
Auto Accident? Slip and Fall? FREE CONSULTATION
No Fees Or Costs Unless You Win HOLLIDAY KARATINOS LAW FIRM, P.L.
SERVING LUTZ/ODESSA
SEPTEMBER 22, 2021
Considering options to ease traffic
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakelutznews.com
Three alternatives are being considered to improve traffic flow through one of Pasco County’s busiest intersections. A community workshop was held last week for the public to weigh in on three proposed alternatives, as well as a no-build option, at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. The intersection carried about 124,000 vehicles per day in 2019 and is projected to
carry 176,000 vehicles per day in 2045, according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s District Seven presentation materials. State Road 54 runs east-west through Pasco County, providing connections to several regional north-south routes, including U.S. 19, the Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41, Interstate 75, U.S. 301 and U.S. 98. Meanwhile, U.S. 41 is a north-south road that traverses the entire length of Pasco County. The roads are part of the regional trans-
portation network, are used as hurricane evacuation routes, and are designated as regional freight mobility corridors. They also play a role in the daily lives of commuters. Motorists use U.S. 41 to travel from Hernando County through Pasco County to Hillsborough County. When the traffic stacks up at the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54, traffic is impeded on both major arterial roads. See TRAFFIC, page 9A
HelpingInjuredPeople.com Call Attorney
JIM HOLLIDAY 813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights” 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)
Walk-Ins Welcome WE’RE THE TEAM YOU CAN COUNT ON
cornerstonepros.com CAC1816647 & CFC1428982 • EC0001103
FRED BELLET
Charts of various configurations of traffic patterns piqued the interest of many attending a workshop regarding alternatives being considered to improve the intersection of U.S. 41 and State Road 54.
TUNE-UPS FOR AC
$29.95 Valid for new customers only. Not valid on pre-purchased plans. Exp 9/30/21.
AC SERVICE CALL
$29.95
FOR FIRST-TIME CUSTOMERS
Valid for new customers only. Not valid on pre-purchased plans. Exp 9/30/21.
Same-Day Service Free 2nd Opinion* Free Estimates** 24/7 Emergency **Free estimates for new A/C, water heater, water treatment, whole home generators, whole home repipe and electrical panel upgrade. *Free second opinion with written diagnosis from another company.
813-990-0561 2012- 2020
NEW PA AT TIENT SPECIAL! Exam including X-rays Only $99!* *New patients onlyy.. Mention code 99 when you call for appointment. D0150, D0210
• Annual Exams • Cleanings • Dentures • Inv Invisible isible Br Braces aces • Mouth Guards
Drr. Vivian DeLuca & Sta aff
Impeccable Dental excellence. Compassionate care.
(813) 365-355 52 4945 V Va an Dyke Road| Lutz Lutz, F FL 33558 www w..impeccablesmiles.com
B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
Leslie Bush, of Tampa, used an electronic device to take notes regarding the proposed alternatives.
Paul Ketchum, who lives in the Oasis development off State Road 54, makes a point regarding one of the proposed plans to improve the flow of traffic through State Road 54 and U.S. 41, where Land O’ Lakes meets Lutz.
Diverging Diamond completion expected next summer By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Superior Construction Company Southeast LLC began working on the completion of the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) last week, at State Road 56 and Interstate 75. Work activities in the first few weeks will involve cleanup, surveying, and other tasks needed to safely resume construction. The project is expected to be completed in FRED BELLET summer 2022, according to Pipes await a crew on the south side right of way, along information on the Florida State Road 56. Construction starts up again in the creation Department of of the diverging diamond road design. Transportation’s website. Activities last week were expected to include mobilization of labor, cross vehicles back over to the right side of equipment and materials, erosion control, the road on the opposite side of the intersurvey, jobsite cleanup of debris and office change. setup, according to an update provided by The changes will help to alleviate traffic Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the District 7 congestion at this interchange to reduce office of the Florida Department of travel time for motorists in this rapidly growTransportation (FDOT). ing area, according to information posted on Minor pothole and erosion control re- FDOT’s website. pairs were completed last week by the A DDI was chosen for the I-75/State Road interim maintenance contractor, the update 56 interchange because of the proven ability adds, with maintenance responsibility ex- of this traffic configuration to increase safety pected to be fully transitioned to Superior and capacity while using a large amount of by Sept. 20. the existing interchange footprint, including The project will reconfigure the I-75/State the existing bridge, according to FDOT. Road 56 interchange between County Road The DDI also was chosen because of its 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard, in Pasco ability to handle heavy left-turn volumes, County. such as the westbound to southbound The existing diamond interchange will be movement from State Road 56 to southmodified and converted to a DDI. bound I-75. The new interchange at State Road 56 The main change will be to diverge, or cross, State Road 56 traffic to the left side of See DIAMOND, page 9A the road through the interchange, and then
Worker shortage takes a toll on Pasco schools School board member Colleen Beaudoin urges Superintendent Kurt Browning to lighten the load, whatever way he can. By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Pasco County Schools has been struggling to fill bus driver, custodial, food service and instructional vacancies — prompting school board member Colleen Beaudoin to seek relief for overburdened workers. Although the numbers fluctuate from day to day, a recent report showed that the district had roughly 155 instructional vacancies and 348 non-instructional vacancies, according to Steve Hegarty, the district’s public information officer.The non-instructional vacancies include 100 bus driver openings. “Our folks are really under a lot of stress,” Beaudoin said, during the school board’s Sept. 14 meeting.“We must do something. Our folks need help” The district has added positions, but is having trouble filling them, she said. “Grants that were supposed to provide for more nurses to help with contact tracing — people are not taking these jobs. It is stretching our folks too thin. “On top of that, people are calling our schools and berating whoever answers the phone because they are upset that buses are late. See WORKER, page 9A