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Hernando Today

Road Widening Elicits Mixed Reaction

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: December 5, 2008

SPRING HILL - During her seven years at Heritage Pines, Adrian Morelli has considered her community just off U.S. 19 and County Line Road a little oasis from the sea of traffic and congestion just outside the gates.

Morelli, 62, is afraid that tranquility is about to be washed out because of the widening of County Line Road on a 2.5-mile stretch from U.S. 19 east to around Cobblestone Drive.

Contractors are doing utility work and disturbing some 30 to 40 feet of right of way by her community.

And she believes the noise from passing traffic will worsen and congestion will make it hard to get in and out.

"This is not a good thing as far as I'm concerned," said Morelli. "I could have stayed in New York City," she said.

The widening project will cost $14.4 million and is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2010. The Florida Department of Transportation, using federal and state money, is providing the bulk of the funding. The county is kicking in money to help match federal funds.

When completed in about two years, the 2.5-mile segment will be four lanes across, with the ability for six lanes in the future. There are already four lanes outside Heritage Pines and that will stay the same.

Not everyone is upset.

Earl Linford, who lives in East Lake Landing mobile home park, welcomes the widening.

Getting in and out of East Lake has always been a pain, he said, pointing out several fatalities that have occurred there.

"This will make it easier to get out," Linford said.

It should especially help those who want faster access to U.S. 19 and the Suncoast Parkway, he said.

Carol Hartman, owner of Suncoast Barbers, said she is concerned about the possible short-term loss of business from the construction. However, the long-term benefits far outweigh any initial hassles, she said.

"Once they get the road done, we will have more visibility because the road is coming closer to us," said Hartman, one of the tenants of County Line Plaza.

Hartman was forced to move her barber shop last October from her previous location closer to U.S. 19 when the state bought that plaza out and leveled the stores to make way for the road.

She is pleased with her new location, about one mile east, because it is close enough to her customer base, which includes Heritage Pines.

She doesn't believe FDOT will block off access to her strip mall and the adjacent industrial park because there are at least 20 businesses clustered together.

Cindy Guarino, owner of Guarino's Pasta-N-Pizza, also believes the road running closer to her restaurant will bring more business.

"We don't have a whole lot of visibility here," she said. "I've been here for three years and people don't know we're here."

Guarino said she has waited for this day ever since moving into County Line Plaza.

"We're thrilled," she said. "One of the reasons we picked this location was because they're widening the road. It seems like a long time, but it's finally here."

County Commissioner Dave Russell said the county is already putting aside impact fee money to be used to acquire right of way for the next leg of widening, from Cobblestone Road to Mariner Road.

The third phase will be from Mariner to the Suncoast Parkway.

He admits there has to be a "give and take" from residents and business owners during the construction period. But he thinks the benefits will outweigh the initial congestion.

"It's a long time coming," Russell said.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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