RUSKIN, Fla. — A trail built over the summer through Ruskin neighborhoods is giving bikers and pedestrians hope they can steer away from traffic while trekking outdoors, though its opening is currently on hold as the county deals with standing water issues.

“This will allow people to ride in this neighborhood without having to go on the roads,” said competitive bike rider Mike Lamarca. He avoids roads after getting clipped by a car.

Lamarca and over a thousand members of the Swamp Mountain Bike Club are anticipating this phase of the South Coast Greenway Trail's completion with skepticism.

The $2.6 million dollar project is the newest part of a trail system that would eventually stretch all the way from Gibsonton to the Little Manatee River Preserve. 

During construction, Lamarca says he noticed some problems with flooding. “The designs they’re implementing are not the solutions that need to be done,” he said. 

Lamarca raised his concerns with county officials. He says the water was deeper during the summer.

“We still have flooding during the dry season,” he added. “They beamed both sides of the trail.”

“The County keeps asking for more money to spend on more transportation projects, but the ones they are doing they don’t seem to be getting them usable.”

In a statement to Spectrum Bay News 9, Hillsborough County said: “As with all construction projects, there are final items that need to be resolved with the engineering and construction teams before it can be opened officially. The County is aware that there are standing water challenges with this trail and is actively working with the contractors on a solution. The benches and bike racks also are on the punch list of items to resolve before the trail can be officially opened.” 

A Greenways Master Plan update community meeting where residents can provide their input is set for November 21, 2022 at 6 p.m.