No Completion Date in Sight for the Citrus Park Drive Extension

A long-awaited project meant to alleviate traffic in the Westchase community was the topic of discussion during last week's Westchase Board of Directors meeting.

Specifically, the planned Citrus Park Drive Extension.

Westchase resident Karen Hough approached the topic during the meeting's public forum.

“I know that Linebaugh Avenue belongs to Hillsborough County, but the traffic affects us all,” Hough said.

The planned development of on Countryway Boulevard had Hough particularly worried.

Congestion on Linebaugh Avenue has long been a thorn in the side of the Westchase community.

When the Citrus Park Drive Extension project was approved back in 2007, it appeared as if a solution to the ever-present congestion was in sight. The 2.82 mile east/west extension was to have been a link between Countryway Boulevard and Sheldon Road and would have most likely resulted in less congestion on other roads in the area, like Linebaugh Avenue.

Additionally, improvements at the Countryway Boulevard and Sheldon Road intersections were slated.

But the project has yet to move pass the design phase.

"The project has been delayed until funding becomes available," said Steve Valdez spokesperson for the county's Public Works Department.

The community investment funding, which would have paid for the $67-million project, ran short due to the recession, Valdez explained.

"The Citrus Park Drive Extension was one of the first projects that had to be deferred,” he said.

In June, the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners moved to defer the project indefinitely.

That means while Westchase may continue to grow, the road that was meant to alleviate traffic may not have a future.

Hough requested that the board members consider sending a letter to the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners expressing their displeasure over the continuing development of the area considering the increased traffic that will surely result from it.

While the board was sympathetic to Hough’s issue with the development on Countryway Boulevard in the absence of the Citrus Park Drive Extension being completed, they weren’t sure that a letter from them would have any influence.

“I don’t think we have much pull,” said Westchase Community Association President Joaquin Arrillaga.

In the end, the WCA board voted to register their concern to the county over the development of the apartment complex on Countryway Boulevard in the form of an addendum to an old resolution cautioning against overdevelopment of the area.

It remains to be seen how much longer Westchase residents will have to wait for the Citrus Park Drive Extension project that was supposed to have vastly improved their community’s transportation network.