WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. -- Growing pains are nothing new to a busy stretch of Pasco County.
- Divergent diamond interchange is coming to Pasco County
- Goal is to ease congestion on I-75 and SR 56
- Project cost is $37.4 million with construction time about two-plus years
Now, transportation officials have a plan to help ease congestion in the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 area near Wesley Chapel and Land O' Lakes.
The area is also a major traffic draw due to the new Tampa Premium Outlets mall.
Even the Florida Department of Transportation has weighed in, saying something has to be done traffic-wise in Pasco with more development on the way.
A divergent diamond may be one of the solutions.
Construction is slated to start this fall on the traffic pattern which traffic crosses both sides of the road to alleviate back ups. A new east-west pattern also will be created on SR 56.
According to FDOT, the addition of the outlet mall at the State Road 56 exit, along with more residential communities, are creating growing slow downs and traffic backups.
The relatively new concept is in place along I-75 in Sarasota but would be a first in the immediate Bay area.
FDOT officials say it will provide for a safer configuration, reducing delays and increasing capacity.
"It's going to help," said FDOT Spokesperson Kris Carson. "Is it going to be the cure all? No, because there's so much growth and development out there.
"The whole idea behind a diverging diamond interchange is to take the traffic from the right side and re-direct it to the left side so there can be that free flow movement onto the interstate so it helps reduce your signals and you won’t have to wait to make a left turn to get onto the interstate so it should really help with the congestion and vehicle delays."
Construction on the $37.4 million project is expected to take about two years. State and federal funds are being used to pay for the project.