Since doors opened at the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Sun City Center, State Road 674 has seen more than its fair share of heavy trucks.

  • Influx from Amazon Fulfillment Center causing problems for S.R. 674
  • State survey of the area recommended repairs and improvements
  • Those funds won't be available until 2018, FDOT representative says

The State of Florida recently completed a survey of 13 intersections on S.R. 674 from 30th Street SE to US 301 and recommended many improvements to accommodate the additional traffic.

Truck driver Thomas McKeithan has been driving this road for 15 years and says the upgrades are overdue.

"Well, 15 years ago compared to today, there's a lot more hazard than there was then," stated McKeithan. "Like I said, you definitely need more merging lanes so the traffic can get on and off."

The deal bringing Amazon to Sun City Center was inked by Hillsborough County. The road the trucks use from I-75 to 30th Street SE is owned and maintained by the State. But there's a disconnect between the two agencies when it comes to upgrades to infrastructure.

The county collects 'impact fees,' or money designated to help transition a new business or construction into the county-owned property.

As an example, a Walmart built on a corner would pay fees to upgrade the existing traffic signals and traffic lanes on and off the property as part of its Impact Fee. The state doesn't receive these funds and therefore does not not have, at this time, the resources to upgrade S.R. 674 for many years.

"The Florida Department of Transportation has a resurfacing project on S.R. 674 from east of Commercial Center Drive to east of US 301 funded in 2018," said FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson. "We will continue to work with the community and the county to incorporate modifications. As continued development is approved by the county, there may be opportunities for improvements to corridors such as this."

Recently, Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White has proposed the county pay the state nearly $900,000 of collected impact fees to help cover the costs the state road's improvements.  

There has been no action on that proposal.