The expansion project is part of a five-year plan.
It’s been over 20 years since a project development and environment study re-evaluation was done on an 18-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 92.
The last study was done in 1994, when the population of Hillsborough County was under 900,000 residents.
Today, the population has grown to over 1.3 million people.
In response, the Florida Department of Transportation announced plans to widen U.S. 92 in November 2015 as part of a five-year plan to relieve traffic from Interstate 4. Prior to construction, the project development and environment study will be updated to review and consider socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
City Commissioners were briefed about a public hearing on the study at a Monday, Nov. 14, meeting. The public hearing will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1, at the John R. Trinkle Center at Hillsborough Community College.
“This has been in the works for many, many years,” Mayor Rick Lott said. “We’re still getting all the information. Now it comes down to the finalization of the design and hearing from our public.”
The Plan
FDOT plans to widen U.S. 92 from east of I-4 to east of County Line Road. In total, the expansion will cover about 18.1 miles.
The plan includes widening the roadway to four lanes, with the exception of Mobley Street to Maryland Avenue. Additionally, paved shoulders and sidewalks will be improved, creating improved walkability for pedestrians.
“There are planned walkways on each side,” City Engineer Michael Schenk said.
The planned expansion project is being done to prepare for Hillsborough County’s expected continued growth while also providing for faster emergency response and evacuation times.
According to FDOT, the design plan for U.S. 92 from Park Road to County Line Road is funded in fiscal year 2017 at $1,800,000. The right of way and construction phases are included in Hillsborough MPO’s Imagine 2040 Long Range Transportation plan. From Park Road to County Line Road, right of way and construction is estimated to cost $58,160,000 between 2021 and 2025.
The segment of road would be 50% over capacity by 2040 if nothing was done to improve it after 2018.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
