Suncoast Parkway

[Duke87]

My own musing on SR 589 is that traffic counts at the north end are so low, it ends at a stop sign and this functions perfectly fine.

This seems to be a pretty good indication it already goes further then it really needs to. Though I can certainly appreciate the "another way out in the event of a need for evacuation" angle on it.

On that note... has that signal at the north end ever been switched on when evacuations are called for? Or has it been doing nothing but flashing since the road was extended up there?

[edwaleni]

My own musing on SR 589 is that traffic counts at the north end are so low, it ends at a stop sign and this functions perfectly fine.

This seems to be a pretty good indication it already goes further then it really needs to. Though I can certainly appreciate the "another way out in the event of a need for evacuation" angle on it.

On that note... has that signal at the north end ever been switched on when evacuations are called for? Or has it been doing nothing but flashing since the road was extended up there?

Seems like they aren't waiting.  Construction on the extension overpass is well underway.

[Gnutella]

My own musing on SR 589 is that traffic counts at the north end are so low, it ends at a stop sign and this functions perfectly fine.

That's because it doesn't connect to anything. It's the same reason why the two toll highways under construction in the Pittsburgh area still have rather low traffic counts, because they don't connect to anything yet. If the Suncoast Parkway connects to I-75, or even I-10, then more traffic will use it.

[Max Rockatansky]

My own musing on SR 589 is that traffic counts at the north end are so low, it ends at a stop sign and this functions perfectly fine.

That's because it doesn't connect to anything. It's the same reason why the two toll highways under construction in the Pittsburgh area still have rather low traffic counts, because they don't connect to anything yet. If the Suncoast Parkway connects to I-75, or even I-10, then more traffic will use it.

It would end up being a popular choice over US 301, hence more traffic who just wish to avoid the surface highways. 

[The Ghostbuster]

Wikipedia states a new interchange is proposed to be built at CR-524 (Ridge Rd.), which will be between Exits 19 and 27. Does anyone know when/if this interchange will be built, and in what configuration?

[NE2]

Wikipedia states a new interchange is proposed to be built at CR-524 (Ridge Rd.), which will be between Exits 19 and 27. Does anyone know when/if this interchange will be built, and in what configuration?

No.

[D-Dey65]

Wikipedia states a new interchange is proposed to be built at CR-524 (Ridge Rd.), which will be between Exits 19 and 27. Does anyone know when/if this interchange will be built, and in what configuration?

No.

I know it's supposed to be a diamond interchange. I also know they're going through with the construction of the Ridge Road Extension, so whenever it gets close to meeting the Suncoast is more than likely when the interchange will be built.

BTW, I finally drove the Suncoast north to US 98 and south to County Line Road without the toll booths. All the sign gantry tubes have had their toll related signs torn down, and at least one was removed and tossed on the side of the road. Only the SunPass Lane near the Oak Hammock Toll Plaza is opened northbound, and the southbound lane goes straight through as usual. The toll booths at SR 50 aren't operational but they're still standing. The toll booths at County Line Road, on the other hand are demolished.

[ElishaGOtis]

https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/suncoast-parkway-extension-to-open-this-month/article_78345066-a69d-5888-9d32-3b28c8dbfc76.html

That was fast... found out about this after one of the DMSs started showing up on the future segment on FL511.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/suncoast-parkway-extension-to-open-this-month/article_78345066-a69d-5888-9d32-3b28c8dbfc76.html

That was fast... found out about this after one of the DMSs started showing up on the future segment on FL511.

It's now open to traffic.

[D-Dey65]

https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/suncoast-parkway-extension-to-open-this-month/article_78345066-a69d-5888-9d32-3b28c8dbfc76.html

That was fast... found out about this after one of the DMSs started showing up on the future segment on FL511.

It's now open to traffic.

That's a surprise. The original proposal wasn't supposed to include an interchange with the Norvelle Bryant Highway.

Does anybody have any images of the extension? I can't find it on Florida Turnpike Enterprise's website, and Google Maps hasn't updated anything yet.

[ssummers72]

I live 20 minutes away. I will get some photos of the extension.
Have a good day!

[edwaleni]

It appears the ROW for the next extension of the Suncoast has reached North Citrus Ave. (CR-495)

[edwaleni]

Current status on progress.

[The Ghostbuster]

Once FL 589 reaches US 19/98, it likely will permanently end there. Would it be possible to build a bypass around Inglis, in any form, assuming one is ever needed?

[ElishaGOtis]

Once FL 589 reaches US 19/98, it likely will permanently end there. Would it be possible to build a bypass around Inglis, in any form, assuming one is ever needed?

There is an interchange being built at SR-121, but I'm not sure about what's going to happen in Inglis. There is a statutory mandate for "free flow" conditions by 2035 AFAIK, but I'm not sure what that entails.

[NE2]

SR 121 interchange: https://nflroads.com/ProjectFiles/5521/Lebanon%20Station%20Construction%20Open%20House%20August%202025%20Display%20Boards.pdf

Other improvements seem to be stalled since 2022: https://nflroads.com/ProjectDetails.aspx?p=5439

[edwaleni]

SR 121 interchange: https://nflroads.com/ProjectFiles/5521/Lebanon%20Station%20Construction%20Open%20House%20August%202025%20Display%20Boards.pdf

Other improvements seem to be stalled since 2022: https://nflroads.com/ProjectDetails.aspx?p=5439

Yes, 3 public action groups put up a large amount of resistance, one for horses, one was environmental, another was just anti-growth.

The project was tabled after that.

But FDOT is still on the hook to make to improvements to US-19. The wording of the bill was elusive in that it said "provide improvements to the motion of traffic" or something to that effect.

So in response look for more US-19 local bypasses, overpasses with other high use arterials, and ROW acquisition for the future.

[RoadPelican]

Once FL 589 reaches US 19/98, it likely will permanently end there. Would it be possible to build a bypass around Inglis, in any form, assuming one is ever needed?

It seems a bit odd that FDOT would stop the Sunshine Parkway short of a small town commercial zone but then again if they continued the S.P to connect with 19/98 north of Inglis you would have to route it really close to Lake Rosseau and there are a lot of homes near that lake as well.

Another option would be to route the Inglis bypass/Sunshine Parkway west of town but then you would run into the Gulf Hammock State Wildlife Refuge.

With all that said, Inglis has just one stop light and a 45 MPH Speed Limit for just a couple miles before your back to open road and a 65 MPH Speed Limit so FDOT probably said no for now.

[edwaleni]

There have been several attempts to get connectivity improvements on US-19 south of Chiefland

This one was a bypass of Inglis going north.



There was another to connect US-19 with a tollroad to I-75 at Wildwood.

[Beltway]

Looks to me like it is steadily extended northward as a US-19 bypass, as traffic increases on US-19.

[VTGoose]

This may fall into fictional highway land, but has there been any consideration of an eastward extension of the Parkway from around the current end to hit I-75 north of Ocala? A further slide east to U.S. 301 would make travel to Tampa/St. Pete a little less stressful than dealing with I-75 on a bad day.

Bruce in Blacksburg - but a frequent traveler to St. Pete

[The Ghostbuster]

I think it was studied but not pursued. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[edwaleni]

This may fall into fictional highway land, but has there been any consideration of an eastward extension of the Parkway from around the current end to hit I-75 north of Ocala? A further slide east to U.S. 301 would make travel to Tampa/St. Pete a little less stressful than dealing with I-75 on a bad day.

Bruce in Blacksburg - but a frequent traveler to St. Pete

Long term, FDOT wants to create a relief route for I-75 that captures traffic around Tallahassee and bring them south via the Suncoast.

I-75 captures a great deal of tourism traffic from the midwest (while I-95 captures it from Canada and the Northeast.

While not really a part of the Suncoast planning at all, circumvention of Atlanta is becoming a regional problem for vacation travel to and from Florida.