LITHIA, Fla. — A popular but often congested roadway, drivers along Lithia Pinecrest Road in Hillsborough County say it’s long overdue for upgrades.
"There's only two lanes. If there's an accident, you could be held up for over an hour," said resident Sally Conley.
With a growing population, Hillsborough County's infrastructure has struggled to keep up. Resident Russell Beaulieu expressed frustration saying, "It's just a lot of people. A lot of traffic. So, it's very hard to pull out of the side roads and stuff, especially."
It's why county officials are considering several improvements along a 7.5-mile stretch of Lithia Pinecrest Road, from Fishhawk Boulevard to Lumsden Road. The county has already held two public meetings to gather residents' feedback.
Proposed enhancements include widening the roadway to accommodate more vehicles, adding new turn lanes to improve traffic flow, enhancing pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, and installing roundabouts to reduce congestion at key intersections.
Sandra Gonzalez, the design manager for Hillsborough County, emphasized that while these changes are aimed at benefiting the community, the project is still in the design phase.
"The improvements that we implement are going to be for the community but bear in mind, construction is not happening any time soon," she said.
While some residents are optimistic about the proposed improvements, others are concerned about the lack of a definitive timeline.
"By the time we get done, there'll be more people, and it'll be just too bad," Beaulieu said.
As of July, the only funded portion of the project is the study phase. The county has yet to determine the full funding source for the construction, which could come from community taxes, federal or state funds. The project is expected to be completed in several phases, potentially spanning several years.
As the community awaits these much-needed improvements, local leaders remain committed to making Lithia Pinecrest Road a safer and more efficient route for all. The next public meeting for residents to voice their concerns and opinions is scheduled for early next year.
You can follow the latest updates on this project here.