I-75 scheduled for easier navigating

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has projects in mind from the junction with 275 all the way to just north of State Road 52 that should ease congestion on 75.

FDOT has projects planned from the junction with 275 to just north of State Road 52 designed to ease congestion on 75.

WESLEY CHAPEL (Bay News 9) -- Motorists like Crystal Morris can't wait for Interstate 75 from Hillsborough to Hernando County to be widened to six lanes, especially at rush hour in Pasco County.

"I think six lanes would be great," Morris said. "It would give more leeway for more cars to go through. You just sit there most of the time."

Driver Bryan Frazier added: "More traffic coming with the new mall and everything. We need bigger lanes, more lanes."

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has projects in mind from the junction with 275 all the way to just north of State Road 52 that should ease congestion on 75.

Moving Down The Road

The new plans show 275 and 75 north getting their own exit ramp directly to State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel. In the current design, there's only one exit for 56 that gives many drivers no choice but to criss cross each other.

"People are trying to travel north on 75 and others are trying to exit to 56 and these extra ramps will alleviate that weaving action of vehicles," said Adam Perez, a program manager with FDOT.

The bridge above 54 would be widened so it could handle expansion to six lanes. FDOT wants to make the exit ramp onto 54 longer and they also might make it a double lane.

Construction for the northbound exit ramps onto 56 should begin in 2010. Improvements at the interchange with 54 to widen the bridge and lengthen the north bound exit ramp in Wesley Chapel should start in 2009.

FDOT plans to create a new jughandle on-ramp from 52 west to 75 south. But for now, it only has funding for the projects at the interchanges with 56 and 54.