County Line widening on target for 2010 finish

Merchant Amanda Rickard watches as another driver maneuvers around the orange and white construction barrels to turn into County Line Plaza.

"He's going the wrong way," said Rickard, who owns Amanda's Pet Salon, one of about five shops in the plaza.

With all the bulldozers, dump trucks and activity associated with the widening, it's easy to do, she says.

But Rickard said she is not complaining because, when the four-laning from U.S. 19 east to Cobblestone Road is done in about six months, she believes business will increase.

Contractors are removing some 30-40 feet of right of way in front of her plaza, which means her salon sign will be closer to the roadway and increase visibility.

"I can't wait," she said.

Before, with two lanes, motorists shied away from traveling down County Line Road because they dreaded getting stuck behind a slow-moving truck, she said.

Now, there will be extra lanes and the road will be a direct link from U.S. 19 to the Suncoast Parkway and U.S. 41, she said. And with the addition of a walking path and golf cart lane on the south side of the road, it will make it easier for her customers from Heritage Pines about one mile east to bring their pets to her salon, she said.

Work started in January and is scheduled to be completed in the beginning of 2010.

"We're pretty much right on schedule," said County Commissioner Dave Russell.

Russell said there are also plans to add turn lanes and other safety improvements at the critical County Line Road and Mariner Boulevard intersection.

Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher is committed to working with Hernando County to facilitate long-awaited improvements to County Line Road, said Assistant County Administrator Bipin Parikh.

This first phase of the widening, from U.S. 19 to Cobblestone, will cost $14.4 million. 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.

Russell said funding is in place to acquire right of way for a portion of the second phase, which would widen County Line Road from Cobblestone Road to Mariner Boulevard.

However, construction is not in the county's five-year work plan because of the lack of federal or state funds, he said.

When additional money is available, Hernando and Pasco counties would split the cost, with the former picking up 60 percent of the estimated $50 million it will cost for that phase, minus any available state or federal funding.

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