S.R. 50 Frontage Road On Its Way

The wrecks occurred near the Brookridge subdivision

near the Suncoast Parkway.

Coincidentally, county commissioners the next day took

action designed to alleviate traffic along that stretch

of S.R. 50. By clearing up a zoning issue, they paved

the way for a frontage road to be built behind Register

Chevrolet, on the northwest corner of S.R. 50 and

Brookridge Central Boulevard.

County Commissioner David Russell said more commercial

development and more traffic spilling out on S.R. 50

prompted the need for the new road.

"It's been in the plans for years and wasn't to be

started until such time it was determined the need was

there," Russell said.

The need is most decidedly there now, he said.

Register will pay for the frontage road, which will

parallel S.R. 50 and run west from Brookridge Central

Boulevard and connect to Sunshine Grove Road.

When completed, Brookridge residents can access the new

commercial complex near the corner of S.R. 50 and

Sunshine Grove Road.

Although funding is available to complete the design

and right-of-way acquisition on the segment of S.R. 50

from Mariner Boulevard to the Suncoast Parkway, that is

still in the future, Russell said.

The frontage road should increase capacity on busy S.R.

50 by funneling much of the traffic to the new road, he

said.

"There's no way that we can afford to widen roads to

create the needed capacity, Russell said.

In 1986, commissioners adopted a frontage road

ordinance that requires such roads be built - at no

cost to the county - when a need is determined along

certain roads.

S.R. 50 is one of those roads.

In 1994, Register Chevrolet asked the county to rezone

property on the north side of S.R. 50 and west of

Brookridge Central Boulevard to develop a car

dealership. Built into that approval was the

stipulation that the property owner would comply with

the ordinance.

In 1994, development along that stretch of S.R. 50 was

nowhere near what it is today and the road was not

required.

Fourteen years later, the area has become a magnet for

commercial developers, prompting concern from

commissioners about traffic safety.

Traffic has increased with last year's opening of

Coastal Landing and its various outparcels.

That center includes Marshalls, PETCO, Old Navy, Linens

'n' Things and other stores.

Coastal Landing is a companion plaza to the

240,000-square-foot Coastal Way Shopping Center to the

west and is connected via a service road.

The property immediately to the west of Register

Chevrolet is being developed and is scheduled to

include a restaurant and smaller retail shops.

The road behind the dealership is already stubbed out

for its continuation and requires another 200 yards for

extension.

The county will maintain the frontage road and the

right of way, County Engineer Charles Mixson said.