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By GARY NAGER Editorial

Jannah and I have lived west of S.R. 56 for the last three years, so the interchange at I-75 and 56 has been a major thorn in our side from Day One. Because Jannah works at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County about three miles east of I-75, she has driven over the interchange almost every day. Because I work on S.R. 54 a mile or so east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., however, I have had a choice of taking 75 north from 56 to 54 or taking Wesley Chapel Blvd. to my office. And, even though the latter has only one lane in each direction and often has backups of its own, I basically have avoided the I-75/56 junction like the plague.

When the new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) opened on May 1, however, I decided to bite the bullet and cross over and/or use I-75 every day since then and, I’m happy to say, most of those trips have definitely been way easier than what I used to encounter at Wesley Chapel’s own “Malfunction Junction.”

Heading east on 56 to 75 south, even though there have been backups, they’ve been nothing like what I used to experience. Heading east over 75 on 56, I have waited through several progressions of lights, but only once more than 10 minutes. Heading east on 56 to turn on 75 north has been about the same.

When I have come from the BBD exit of 75 north to the 56 exit, despite backups of a mile or more, I’ve yet to wait more than a couple of minutes to make the left onto 56 west towards where we live. I’ve also not really had a problem when I’ve turned right onto 56 east from 75 north, although I’ve seen a lot of people complain on social media about that one because of the new traffic signal at that location.

The two biggest delays I’ve found, and the Florida department of Transportation (FDOT) is aware of them, have come when I’ve taken 75 south from S.R. 54 to the 56 exit and turned right (westbound) towards the outlet mall, as well as when traveling west on 56 from the Sports Campus over 75 — especially during the afternoon rush hour. It took me almost 20 minutes to get from the Mercedes dealership to Zukku-San on Friday afternoon, which is similar to what we would experience before the DDI opened.

One thing that has helped make some of the delays worse are the drivers themselves. Too many people are texting/looking at their phones, staying in the wrong lanes before trying to force their way into the lanes they really needed to be in at the last second and not starting to go when their light turns green. If you wait 5-10 seconds to go when you’re first at the signal, you’re making the problems worse, so please put down the phone and pay attention so we can all get where we’re trying to go faster and safer.

I also attribute some of the issues to people genuinely not understanding how the new DDI works, but once you’ve driven through it in every direction, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t see how much better it will be when all of the lanes are open and all of the traffic signals are timed better. ‘Rucking’ For A Wounded Warrior!

Danny Locascio, the owner of Impact Fitness in Lutz, is hosting a community “ruck-raiser” event (“rucking” fund raiser) in partnership with Impact Fitness’ non-profit organization, Heroes Adapt, on Saturday, May 21, 7:30 a.m.

Locascio, who was the guest speaker at the After Hours Rotary Satellite Club of New Tampa on May 4 (held at the new Skybox Rooftop Bar at the Residence Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel), said the event will raise funds to directly benefit a local wounded warrior who is a long-time member and adaptive athlete at Impact Fitness and will include three moderate intensity workouts, along with three shortdistance rucks (walks/runs with full backpacks) coordinated by the Impact Fitness staff.

All proceeds from the ruck raiser will go towards purchasing adaptive fitness equipment designed specifically for use by adaptive athletes in wheelchairs and the equipment will be donated to the wounded warrior vet for use in his own personal gym.

The event will be hosted at Impact Fitness (21145 Leonard Rd, Lutz) and all ages are welcome. To register for the event or to donate, please visit the “Heroes Adapt” Facebook page. For more information about Impact Fitness, call (813) 345-8209 or visit impactfitnessusa.com.

Danny Locascio of Impact Fitness in Lutz, was the featured speaker at the Rotary Satellite After Hours Club meeting on May 4.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

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Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin Isabella Douglas Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Morgan Conlin Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager

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