PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — There’s a new way to get across Pasco County.

What You Need To Know

  • The Florida Department of Transportation just opened two lanes of the new State Road 52 to help with traffic in east Pasco County

  • It gives drivers a more direct route between I-75 and US 301

  • Officials say the four-lane highway will be completely opened later in the year

The Florida Department of Transportation just opened the new State Road 52, and officials say the long-awaited change will give drivers a more direct route between I-75 and U.S. 301.

“This is a great day,” said FDOT District 7 Secretary David Gwynn at the ribbon cutting for the new road. “For years, Pasco County has needed some additional east-west capacity to get across the whole county.”

The original State Road 52 in east Pasco was a two-lane road that worked its way through areas like San Antonio and St. Leo. That road will now become Pasco County Road 52 and will be managed by the county.  

Gwynn said the new highway project has been decades in the making.

Not only will the new State Road 52 help commuters, Gwynn said it will help with the growing truck traffic in east Pasco with all the new businesses moving in.

“There’s a huge amount of truck traffic that’s coming through the county," he said. "This is going to allow that traffic to go from I-75 over to U.S. 301 on a four-lane roadway, as opposed to going through small towns and neighborhoods now."

He said that will mean fewer traffic lights to wait at, too.

One lane in each direction is now open, but continues on the four-lane road, which will fully open later this year.

Gwynn said the $80 million project came mostly from state funds, but Pasco County added money, too.