Drivers frustrated by northbound I-275 into Pasco County

For drivers heading north on Interstate 275 into Pasco County, the highway can be particularly frustrating during peak commute times.

That's because the highway goes from three lanes to two about a quarter-mile before the exit ramp for State Road 56.

As a result, drivers say the merging traffic can back up more than a mile every afternoon.

Frank Briercheck is one of those frustrated drivers.

"The Department of Transportation just spent millions of dollars putting three lanes from Bearss all the way up to I-75 at the apex," he said. "However, they cut it from three lanes down to two lanes less than a quarter-mile before the new 56 exit."

Kris Carson, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation, said this part of the highway is the remaining 10 percent of a much larger project.

State officials said they plan to finish the job, which includes extending the right lane to the State Road 56 exit ramp, in the summer of 2014.

The project will cost approximately $3.25 million.

Complete details on the project can be found on FDOT's Project Page.