City officials in Zephyrhills have wanted a State Road 56 extension to ease traffic for years.
The Florida Department of Transportation had planned decided to add a four-lane road that would connect SR 56 near Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch with U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.
But the Florida Department of Transportation has decided to fund only a two-lane road.
“It’s very frustrating,” said city councilman Charlie Proctor. “The city needs a four-lane highway coming in and out, it’s just going to make it easier for people getting in and out of the city and we are growing.”
Councilman Proctor says his city is only 200 citizens away from being the largest city in Pasco County.
Not only that, but the four-lane road would have also encouraged economic development in the area. It’s why the city turned to Pasco County for funding, but the county also doesn’t have the cash because the project is ranked low on the county’s funding list.
“There are other state roads that have been in the priority list ahead of this particular project,” said county Commissioner Ted Schrader.
County officials say Zephyrhills officials should be glad the state is fronting the money.
“Let’s be thankful that the state is willing to spend nearly $40 million to build these two lanes,” said Schrader.
“I’m thankful for what we can get, but in the beginning we were told that we were going to have four lanes,” said Proctor.
The city is now working on getting state representatives involved in hopes of finding a way to get the money needed.
Both sides plan to sit down to discuss further options during a town hall meeting in late January.
The project is slated to start in the spring of 2016.