Construction To Begin On U.S. 98 Bypass Project In Pasco County

DADE CITY, FL — Lane closures with periodic flagging and brief traffic stops are scheduled for several areas of the U.S. 98 Bypass between 7th Street South and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12 through Thursday, Sept. 14.

These traffic operations are needed for testing activities that are being done for the final project engineering plans. Construction work is expected to begin in January 2024.

This 1.6-mile design-build project will widen U.S. 98, also known as the Dade City Bypass, from two lanes to a four-lane divided highway from 7th Street South to 7th Street North at a cost of $37.9 million.

The project also includes widening U.S. 98 from the Polk County line to U.S. 301.

Two roundabouts will be added to the project: One will be constructed at 7th Street South and one at Old Lakeland Highway.

New traffic signals will be added at the Meridian Avenue and 7th Street North intersections. The existing signal at Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will be improved. Sidewalks will be built on both sides of the highway.

Access to driveways and local streets will be maintained.