State Road 54

State Road 54 comprises two sections traveling across Pasco County. The western segment is a six lane arterial forming one of the two primary highways between I-75 and the heavily populated U.S. 19 corridor. The eastern portion extends from CR 54 at SR 581 (Bruce B. Downs Boulevard) to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. Wesley Chapel Boulevard links the two segments as County Road 54.

Florida State Road 54 / Pasco County Road 54 Guides

Multiple projects expanded SR 54 across Pasco County. The western 1.5 miles of the state road, between U.S. 19 and a point east of Madison Street, were expanded from two to six lanes during $11.4 million in construction finished in January 2003.¹ $9.8 million in construction completed in May 2004 expanded SR 54 from two to six lanes east of CR 587 (Gunn Highway) to west of SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway). Also finished in May 2004 was $11.3 million widening of SR 54 from either two or four lanes to six overall lanes betweenm Suncoast Parkway and a location west of U.S. 41.² An $18.3 million project widened SR 54 from two to six lanes between Mitchell Bypass (Little Road / CR 1) and a point east of CR 587 (Gunn Highway) by May 2006.³

Work to widen SR 54 from four to six lanes between the Suncoast Parkway (SR 589) and U.S. 41 in Land O' Lakes started in February 2015. Including the addition of sidewalks, lighting and adding traffic lights at Meadowbrook Drive, the $16 million project ran through April 2016.⁴

The diamond interchange joining Interstate 75 with Pasco County Road 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) was reconstructed during a $33 million project. Underway from February 2, 2009 to Fall 2010, work replaced the I-75 overpasses across Wesley Chapel Boulevard to accommodate six-lane expansion of the freeway and future widening of Wesley Chapel Boulevard. Additionally the exit and entrance ramps between the two roads were expanded.⁵

Zephyrhills West Bypass Extension

The Zephyrhills West Bypass Extension was part of a new alignment planned for State Road 54 east from near Curley Road (CR 577) to CR 54 along Eiland Boulevard. A study completed in August 2002 outlined three potential alignments, A, B and C. Alignment C was ultimately selected.

A three-phase project was envisioned for the West Zephyrhills Bypass. The first phase to the east at CR 54 / 579 (Eiland Boulevard) and Handcart Road was estimated to cost $14.5 million for right-of-way and construction. Costing around $13 million, the second phase would widen CR 54 along Eiland Boulevard from two to four lanes, between Handcart Road (CR 579) and Dean Dairy Road. The final portion would extend the four-laning of Eiland Boulevard east to U.S. 301 (Gall Boulevard) at a cost of over $18 million.⁵

With funds already spent, the total West Zephyrhills Bypass project topped $50 million. The first two phases were anticipated for completion in 2016-17, followed by the third by 2019 or 2020. Funding was derived from Pasco County gas taxes and transportation impact fees.⁶

However work never got underway on the west Zephyrhills Bypass, and instead a new corridor (State Road 56) was studied and ultimately chosen to alleviate east-west traffic needs between I-75 and Zephyrhills. The realignment of SR 54 between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills is not moving forward. Instead FDOT will expand the existing two-lane alignment from east of Curley Road to the planned Curley Road Extension to six lanes, and the ensuing stretch east to Lake Crystal Road to four lanes. The 4.5 mile, $42.4 million project started in November 2017 and was anticipated through Summer 2021. However the original project contractor defaulted on July 28, 2021, halting construction.

Connect with:
Interstate 75
U.S. 19
U.S. 41
U.S. 301
State Road 56
State Road 581 / County Road 581 - Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
State Road 589 - Veterans Expwy / Suncoast Pkwy
Pasco County Road 1 - Little Road
Pasco County Road 77
Pasco County Road 577
County Road 579
County Road 587 - Gunn Highway
Pasco County Road 595
County Road 996 - Trinity Boulevard

Page Updated 09-27-2022.