Long-Awaited I-75/SR 56 Redesigned Interchange Now Open

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Despite a few hitches due to the weekend storms, the highly anticipated redesigned intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is now open to traffic.

The Florida Department of Transportation announced that all ramps are open and traffic is flowing smoothly on Florida's second diverging diamond interchange, a new interchange design being used by the FDOT to prevent traffic from backing up on entrance lanes from I-75 to State Road 56 between County Road 54 and Cypress Ridge Boulevard during peak hours.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed last year, prompting Pasco County commissioners to complain about the amount of time it was taking.

The FDOT said work on the intersection was delayed due to the past two unusually active hurricane seasons combined with delays obtaining building materials due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Compounding the problem, work was halted over the summer when the contractor, DAB Constructors of Citrus County, notified the FDOT that it had filed for bankruptcy and was defaulting on its seven contracts with the FDOT, worth $250 million, including three contracts in Pasco County.

Facing pressure from the county commission, the FDOT awarded the $33. 6 million contract to Superior Construction Company Southeast LLC on Sept. 13, and urged the company to quickly finish the job.

In contrast to the old diamond design used on the majority of interstate exchanges, the divergent diamond design crosses (diverges) SR 56 traffic to the left side of the road through the interchange, and then crosses vehicles back over to the right side of the road on the opposite side of the interchange.

The first divergent diamond project in Florida was constructed at University Parkway and I-75 in Sarasota. It lauded as safer and more efficient because it cut down on the contact points between cars traveling in opposite directions and eliminated left turns crossing over traffic.

The FDOT said the divergent diamond design now being adopted nationwide has been shown to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce travel time for drivers.

More than 100,000 vehicles pass through the SR 56 interchange each day, with the numbers expected to grow as Pasco County's current building boom along SR 56 and the I-75 corridor continues.

See related stories:

• Work Resumes On Long-Delayed Wesley Chapel Interchange Project
• Open House Tonight To Give Residents Peek At I-75/SR 56 Redesign

As of Sunday, all lanes and ramps are open at the interchange as well as two through-lanes in each direction of SR 56 over I-75 plus dedicated lanes to enter northbound and southbound I-75.

However, drivers can expect to see construction continue at the interchange through the summer as the FDOT adds another lane in each direction of SR 56.

https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/262/430573-1-52-01