Cone & Graham, Inc. successfully completed the final phase of the State Road 54 widening project, a critical infrastructure upgrade for Pasco County’s rapidly growing Wesley Chapel area. The $43 million project expanded 4.5 miles of SR 54 from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road, transforming the once rural, two-lane road into a modern four-lane divided highway. This major improvement includes a sidewalk on the north side and a 10-foot-wide multi-use trail on the south side, running the entire length of the project.

This widening was essential to accommodate the area’s booming residential and commercial development, which includes large communities like Avalon Park and the Village of Pasadena Hills. The project began in 2018 but faced delays due to supply chain issues during the pandemic and a contractor default in 2021. Cone & Graham was brought on board to complete the project after the original contractor, D.A.B. Constructors, voluntarily defaulted.

Despite these challenges, Cone & Graham completed the project in early 2024, opening all through-lanes by late October 2023 and finishing turn lanes by December. The project significantly improves traffic flow along SR 54, a key east-west corridor that had long been plagued by congestion. It is part of a broader initiative by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Pasco County to address the region’s growing transportation needs, with SR 54 being the fourth major road project completed in Wesley Chapel in the last five years.

The upgraded SR 54 corridor now supports the continued growth of the region, providing safer, more efficient travel for residents and commuters, and setting the stage for future improvements like the widening of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Old Pasco Road.