S.R. 50 Frontage Road On Its Way

BROOKSVILLE - During lunch hour Monday, two accidents on either side of State Road 50 blocked traffic for more than an hour.

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