HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — The long-awaited Citrus Park Drive Extension project is officially open in Hillsborough County.
It was once delayed by supply chain issues, but those have since been resolved. The Citrus Park Drive Extension is a new roadway in western Hillsborough County that connects the Westchase neighborhood by Deer Park Elementary School from Sheldon Road to Countryway Boulevard to the Westfield Citrus Park Mall area.
Engineers say it cuts the 20-minute commute time from the school to the mall down to just three minutes.
Leaders say plans for the $51.7 million project have been in the works for more than 35 years, with an original request for traffic relief made in 1984.
Work began about two years ago.
The 2.73-mile extension is more pedestrian-friendly by incorporating Vision Zero principles providing connectivity with other neighborhoods
It is a four-lane road that includes bike lanes and sidewalks. The goal is to relieve congestion along nearby Linebaugh Avenue, South Mobley Road and accommodate for continued traffic demands in the area.
It includes several new traffic lights and a new drainage system for the area, as well.