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PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Some drivers in Pasco County are frustrated with the growing congestion on U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.
U.S. 301 is a two-lane road in that area that many use to commute between Pasco and Hillsborough counties.
Zephyrhills resident Julia Maynor says it can take her more than a half hour to commute just over two miles to work.
“It’s close. But takes me 30 to 45 minutes to get there,” Maynor said.
Maynor said she has had the same commute on U.S. 301 for 12 years. But in that span, the time it takes her to get to and from work has only increased.
“Steadily gotten worse, steadily gotten worse,” Maynor said.
She says the problems usually start at U.S. 301 and Chancey Road.
Maynor believes the increase in traffic is likely due to the growth she sees in the area – yet the road has stayed the same. (Spectrum Bay News 9/Tim Wronka)
“The Chancey intersection is terrible. Terrible. Anyone that comes that way has to be patient,” Maynor said.
That’s where a lot of drivers are turning on and off the two lanes of 301, causing backups during rush hour.
Maynor believes the increase in traffic is likely due to the growth she sees in the area — yet the road has stayed the same.
“But lately with the building of the communities and things, it has just grown even worse,” Maynor said.
That’s why she is surprised plans to widen 301 haven’t moved forward.
She feels the highway needs to be expanded to at least two lanes in each direction.
The Florida Department of Transportation does have projects in the works to widen that stretch of US 301. However at this time, they’re not funded for construction, which is why they haven’t moved forward yet.
Maynor hopes that changes soon.
“And if they don’t, I can’t even imagine in the next five years what U.S. 301 would truly be like. Just trying to get through the city of Zephyrhills,” Maynor said.
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Tim Wronka
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