CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – It’s official, the Suncoast Parkway Extension 2 is open for travelers.

Florida Turnpike Enterprise Executive Director Nicola Liquori told Bay News 9, “This 13-mile extension into Citrus County is so important for connectivity between regions for smooth and seamless for the residents in West Central Florida and we’re just so pleased to be here today to be able to open the roadway for the community.” 

Citrus County residents like Stephen Petterson, who’s called Lecanto home for over a decade, this is exciting news.

“I usually cut the lawn around here for people. Watch their places during the summer. they all go back up north, but I’m here permanently,” Petterson said. 

His back yard faces the new Suncoast Parkway Extension, and he said he doesn’t mind the traffic or the noise because, “Instead of an hour and 20 minutes to the airport, it takes an hour.”

A 20-minute difference in his commute to Tampa is huge for him.

Residents like Petterson were one of the driving forces for local architect Jim Kimbrough, who helped bring the parkway this far north.

Kimbrough said, “I’ve spent my life involved in economic development and nothing contributes to economic development more than adequate transportation system and jobs, jobs, jobs.”

He said this 135-million dollar project, expected to be completed by this summer is ahead of schedule because of how fast the county is growing and its possibilities.

Kimbrough, “I’m a 6th generation resident right here so I believe in this part of the Sunshine State and the folks are going to keep coming here as long as there’s snow up north and sunshine here, they’re coming to see us in Florida.

There has been some opposition to this new road, but Petterson disagrees.

He said he's seen so much change in the county in just 10 years. 

“We’re human, we adapt,” he continued to say.

Officials say this new extension opens up the opportunity for large and small businesses to call citrus county home as well.

The new road has two interchanges, one in Hernando County on U.S. 98 and the other on West Cardinal Street in Homosassa.

The project includes four wildlife crossings, two electronic tolling sites, and the Suncoast trail parallel to the road that will be completed by early spring.