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Regional Goods Movement Highway Corridors

The area's roadway system is the foundation of effective and efficient goods movement in the region. Like the seaports, airports, and railroads, virtually every business and household in the region is dependent to some extent on the mobility of trucks for shipping and receiving goods.

Trucks are an important means of sustaining the community by delivering products to stores for purchase; transporting raw materials and finished products for industries; hauling materials for the construction of roads, schools businesses, and homes; and other important functions. Trailers and containers are not simply boxes filled with goods that clog our highways but rather, represent many of the positive aspects of a thriving economy. Providing a safe, well-planned, surface transportation system to efficiently move goods while preserving personal mobility is becoming an increasingly significant concern as our roads become more congested.

The following roads have been designated as regional goods movement corridors that provide both north to south and east to west connectivity within and outside the region. The list is linked to short descriptions of the corridors in each of the five-county region.

Citrus County

US 19
US 19, in the western part of Citrus County, is a four-lane divided arterial that links Crystal River, Homosassa Springs, and Citrus County with neighboring counties to the north and south. This corridor is a designated SIS facility; however, only the portion north of US 98, a Regional Goods Movement Corridor that connects to the Suncoast Parkway and I-75, is identified as a Regional Goods Movement Corridor.

SR 44 (US 19 to Sumter County Line)
SR 44 is the major four-lane, east-west road in the county. It begins at the junction with US 19 in Crystal River and continues through Lecanto and Inverness before intersecting with I-75 (SIS) and the Florida Turnpike (SIS). Inverness is located only 12 miles from the intersection of I-75 and the Florida Turnpike at Wildwood. SR 44 is a heavily traveled road that connects the county’s major municipalities.

US 41 (Inverness Airport to SR 44)
US 41, from the Inverness Airport to SR 44 is a two-lane undivided facility. This roadway connects a future emerging freight activity center, located at the airport, to SR 44, the primary east-west designated Regional Freight Mobility corridor in Citrus County. SR 44 links to I-75 and US 19, which are designated Strategic Trade corridors.

US 98 (US19 to Hernando County Line)
US 98 is a Regional Goods Movement Corridor that connects US 19 to the Suncoast Parkway and I-75 in Hernando County. The Suncoast Parkway/Veterans Expressway is the preferred north-south Regional Goods Movement Corridor west of I-75 between Citrus County and Hillsborough County.

Hernando County

I-75 (Pasco County Line to Sumter County Line)
I-75 is a limited-access freeway and is a designated SIS corridor. The Hernando County segment of the corridor is rural. From the Pasco County line to the Sumter County line, the road is four lanes divided with one interchange located at the intersection with US 98/SR 50.

US 301
The segment of US 301 from SR 50 (Cortez Boulevard) to the Pasco County line is a rural two-lane undivided highway approximately 4 miles in length. It is designated as part of the SIS.

US 41
This corridor extends from the Pasco County line north through Brooksville to the Citrus County line. The corridor provides direct access to the Hernando County Airport and Industrial Park - a rapidly developing industrial area. The facility primarily is a four lane divided highway, however, from Powell Road to SR 50, the highway has been recently widened to a six-lane divided highway. Within Brooksville, the corridor also known as Broad Street includes a one-way pair with Jefferson Street in the city center. The one-way pair extends from North Mildred Avenue to East Jefferson Street. North of East Jefferson Street the corridor continues to the Citrus County line as a two-lane roadway.

Suncoast Parkway
This corridor is a four-lane limited access toll road that currently ends at the intersection of US 98 near the Citrus County line and is part of the SIS. This highway is planned to extend northward to intersect with US 19 (SIS) near the Florida Barge Canal in Citrus County. Interchanges are located at CR 578 (County Line Road), CR 574 (Spring Hill Drive), SR 50 (Cortez Boulevard), and at US 98.

SR 50/US 98/Cobb Road (CR 485) (Suncoast Parkway to US 301)
The SR 50/US 98 corridor extends across the county from the Citrus County line in the northwest to the Pasco County line in the southeast. The highway is a two- to four-lane facility its entire length. The US 98 segment of the corridor bypasses the central business district of Brooksville on the west side via Cobb Road (CR 485) and SR 50 on the south, reconnecting to US 98 southeast of Brooksville. The SR 50 segment terminates at the Suncoast Parkway.

CR 578 (County Line Road)/CR576 (Ayres Road Extension) (Suncoast Parkway to US 41)
From the Suncoast Parkway to US 41, CR 578 is a two-lane undivided rural highway that acts as the boundary between Pasco and Hernando counties. CR 578 will be widened to a four-lane facility from US 19 to US 41 and is in the final stages of the PD&E Study. The Ayres Road extension will be a new facility extending from CR 578 to the present Ayres Road/US 41 intersection. This short corridor will connect the US 41 corridor with the Suncoast Parkway corridor. The proposed Ayres Road Extension alignment will divert traffic to the west of Massaryktown from US 41 and connect to CR 578 approximately 0.5 mile east of the Suncoast Parkway. It will also provide access to the south entrance of the Hernando County Airport and its industrial parks.

Hillsborough County

I-75
I-75 is a limited access freeway. The roadway is six lanes from the Manatee County line to the Fowler Avenue interchange. There are eight-lane sections between the Gibsonton Drive and US 301 interchanges and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I-4 interchanges. The roadway is four-lane between Fowler Avenue and the Pasco County line. Ramp improvements including a new flyover ramp were recently completed to mitigate a queuing problem at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

I-275
I-275 is a limited-access freeway. It is primarily a six-lane highway throughout Hillsborough County with the exception of a four-lane segment from Bearss Avenue to the I-75 interchange in Hillsborough County and eight-lane sections between Ashley Street and Howard Avenue in Tampa. There is a major interchange located at the junction with I-4 just north of the downtown business district. Construction is underway on new northbound lanes between Memorial Highway (SR 60) and the Hillsborough River.

I-4
I-4 is a limited-access freeway. The roadway contains six lanes from the Polk County line to the I-275 interchange.

US 301
This facility extends from I-4 south to the Manatee County line. The segment from Gibsonton Road to Palm River Road is six-lane divided with left-turn lanes at major intersections. The roadway narrows to four-lanes divided with turning lanes to approximately 1 mile north of I-4. South of Gibsonton Road, the highway is a two-lane undivided facility. The southern portion is used by trucks carrying bulk minerals from the phosphate mines of southeastern Hillsborough County to the port facilities along the eastern shores of Tampa Bay as well as by agricultural-related freight activities. Although the segment from I-4 northward is considered part of the Statewide Strategic Trade Corridor network, it is not part of the regional corridors due to lack of significant truck traffic on this segment. There is one interchange with I-75, which is located north of Bloomingdale Avenue in Riverview, and another interchange with I-4 between Orient Road and I-75.

US 41
The US 41 Corridor consists of two segments in Hillsborough County. The first segment is from the Manatee County Line north to the Hillsborough Avenue (US 41)/I-275 Interchange. The second segment is from US 41 and Bearss Avenue north to the Pasco County Line.

US 41 is a four-lane highway from the Manatee County line to Pendola Point Road. From this point it transitions into a six-lane divided roadway to I-4 except for a short four-lane section where it crosses the Palm River south of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. North of I-4, the roadway transitions from four lanes to two lanes on Melbourne Boulevard as the corridor shifts to 40th Street and continues north to Hillsborough Avenue. The corridor follows Hillsborough Avenue west to I-275. At this point the corridor overlaps the I-275 Corridor north to Bearss Avenue. Bearss Avenue is used to connect the corridor back from I-275 to US 41 (Nebraska Avenue) east of I-275. The corridor picks-up as four lanes from Bearss Avenue to the Pasco County line. Also located within the corridor is a CSXT north-south rail right-of-way with spurs to various port and industrial facilities along the route.

LEE ROY SELMON CROSSTOWN EXPRESSWAY (SR 618) AND GANDY BOULEVARD CORRIDOR
This corridor extends from Gandy Bridge and Gandy Boulevard in the southwest to I-75 in the east. It is a limited-access four-lane toll facility. There are two toll plazas with the remaining collection facilities at the on- and off-ramps.

SR 60
The SR 60 freight corridor begins at 19th Street in Tampa and continues east to the Polk County line in the Tampa Bay Region eventually linking with the Florida Turnpike, I-95, and US 1. SR 60 is a major east-west connector to Florida’s south central Atlantic Coast. The facility is four lanes from 19th Street to Falkenburg Road becoming eight lanes through the Brandon area to Kings Avenue.

From Kings Avenue to Bryan Road, in Brandon, the highway is six lanes with no room for expansion. From Bryan Road to Valrico Road, the highway returns to eight lanes transitioning to a rural four-lane divided highway that passes south of Plant City. The facility is a divided roadway with left- and right-turn lanes at major intersections from west of 34th Street to the Polk County line. A truck weigh station is located in the median immediately east of SR 39.

SR-39/Park Road/Sam Allen Road
The SR 39/Park Road/Sam Allen Road corridor runs from south of the Pasco County line to SR 60. From Pasco County to Sam Allen Road, the corridor is a two-lane rural highway. At Sam Allen Road, north of I-4, the corridor turns east to bypass the center of Plant City. The corridor turns south at Park Road as a four lane facility access to I-4 and the Plant City Industrial Area. The bypass corridor then turns west at Alexander Street, and reconnects to SR 39 on the south side of Plant City. From Alexander Street south to SR 60, SR 39 is a rural four lane divided facility.

From the Pasco County line to Sam Allen Road the CSXT Yeoman Subdivision line runs parallel to the east side of the highway.

Memorial Highway/Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway
This facility extends from the Pasco County line south to I-275. From Pasco County to north of Hillsborough Avenue, the corridor is a four lane limited access toll road. South of Hillsborough Avenue to I-275 the facility includes six through lanes and three interchanges. The interchange at the Courtney Campbell Causeway is partially signalized with three northbound to westbound lanes turning left and three unsignalized northbound through lanes. This signal also controls the eastbound Courtney Campbell Causeway to northbound Memorial Highway movement. Southbound traffic is not signalized. There is an interchange leading into Tampa International Airport, as well as an interchange at I-275.

Hillsborough Avenue (SR 600)
Hillsborough Avenue is an urban four- to six-lane collector route. It connects the industrial area along the Hillsborough/Pinellas County line to the Veterans Expressway, I-275, and I-4 as well as to Tampa International Airport.

I-4/Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway Connector (Planned)
The I-4/Crosstown Connector (the Connector) is being designed with exclusive truck ramps to accommodate heavy trucks to/from the Port of Tampa. Trucks traveling northbound from the Port on 20th/22nd Street and accessing I-4 eastbound and westbound, will access the exclusive truck lane just south of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (Expressway). Trucks southbound to the Port from I-4 will enter the Connector on general use ramps and flyovers and will separate from the general travel lanes south of 7th Avenue continuing on a dedicated truck lane that merge with the new 20th/22nd Street alignment on the east side of the Port.

This project is in the design phase. Funds were allocated to move up the acquisition of right-of-way. An additional $293 million is planned for the 5-Year Work Program beginning in 2009 to complete this project.

Orient Road
Orient Road is an urban two-lane connector street that links the East Central Tampa Industrial Activity Center with I-4 to the north and SR 60 to the south. There is a grade separation over the eastern end of the CSXT Yeoman Rail Yard. This road is narrow and heavily traveled by both automobiles and trucks. A freight mobility "Hot Spot" was identified at the railroad crossing located south of Broadway Avenue. Trains entering the Uceta Yard frequently block this crossing.

Causeway Boulevard (SR 676)
The Causeway Boulevard corridor is heavily used to connect US 301 and the phosphate mining operations of southeastern Hillsborough County to the Hooker’s Point terminals. The roadway is four lanes from the Port to the US 41 intersection with a continuous turning lane from the east side of the bridge over McKay Bay to US 41. East of US 41. Construction is nearly complete on widening the remaining segments between US 41 and US 301 to four lanes.

Approximately 3,300 heavy trucks per day use this 3.25-mile facility from US 301 to US 41 for access to the Port. A CSXT railroad crossing east of US 41 causes major delays to smooth flow during each of the 32 daily train crossings by trains as long as 110 rail cars. Traffic backups east of the crossing result in blockages to all streets leading into the local neighborhoods causing general gridlock throughout the area. This rail crossing is a significant problem that has been identified in other reports and recommended for grade separation.

Big Bend Road (CR 672)
This corridor extends from US 301 to US 41, a distance of 4 miles. The roadway is a four-lane divided facility with an interchange at I-75, 1.5 miles west of US 301. It is one of the primary connectors between the mines in the southeast portion of Hillsborough County and the I-75/US 41 corridors that service the Port facilities along the US 41 corridor.

SR 674 (Sun City Boulevard)
This corridor extends 30 miles from the Polk County Line east to US 41 in Ruskin. The eastern 22 miles consist of a rural two-lane facility to the intersection of US 301. From US 301 to US 41, the facility changes to a suburban four-lane divided highway. It connects the mines in southeastern Hillsborough County with the US 41 corridor that serves port facilities to the north and south.

US 92 (Park Road to Polk County Line)
This short section of US 92 is a rural two-lane facility extending 3.5 miles from the intersection with Park Road in eastern Plant City to the Polk County line. The corridor is used primarily as an alternate parallel route to I-4 located approximately 1.5 miles to the north and connects to an area of Polk County heavily occupied by large distribution centers.

Madison Avenue/Progress Boulevard
This freight corridor connects US 41 and the Port of Tampa facilities with US 301 and I-75. This connector provides primary truck access to the port facilities of Pendola Point and Port Sutton. It is a more direct access route to I-75 than Causeway Boulevard. This facility is also the most direct link between the port facilities and the phosphate mines and processing facilities located in eastern Hillsborough County. The facility is a two lane roadway from US 41 to 78th Street changing to four lanes through Progress Village returning to two lanes immediately east of Falkenburg Road. The regional corridor ends at US 301 however, the route continues east along Bloomingdale Avenue and eventually Lithia Pinecrest Road as a Hillsborough County truck route providing access to the phosphate mines in the eastern part of the county.

Turkey Creek Road/US 92/Branch Forbes Road
This corridor is used to connect the Plant City Airport Freight Activity Center to I-4. Turkey Creek Road is a two-lane facility that extends from Sydney Road to US 92 (Hillsborough Avenue). The corridor extends westward along US 92 as a two-lane facility turning north on the Branch Forbes Road, also a two-lane facility, for less than one mile before reaching the I-4 interchange.

Pasco County

I-75
I-75 is a rural four-lane limited access freeway from the Hillsborough County line to the Hernando County line that is part of the SIS. There are interchanges located at SR 56 (New), SR 54, and SR 52.

US 301 via Chancy Road/CR 35A Bypass
This segment of US 301 extends from the Hernando County line to the intersection with Chancey Road. This corridor is rural two-lane facility. A four-lane segment from Zephyrhills to Dade City is not included as a regional corridor but a continuous link is provided by Chancey Road and CR 35A, which bypasses both Dade City and Zephyrhills on the east reconnecting to US 301 south of Zephyrhills Airport.

SR 54/SR 56
This corridor extends east from Starkey Road to US 301 in Zephyrhills. SR 54 is currently being widened to four lanes. SR 56 is a new highway that connects to SR 54 west of a new interchange on I-75, continues east to CR 581 at this time, and is planned to continue eastward to US 301. Once complete, the SR 56 segment will become the regional corridor. Until then, freight traveling east to US 301 will remain on SR 54 to Zephyrhills. Current and previously approved future projects along this corridor will give the roadway the characteristics of a suburban collector route.

US41
The corridor begins at the Hillsborough County line and continues north to Hernando County. From the Hillsborough County line to north of SR 54, the facility is four lanes narrowing to two lanes for the remaining segment. This corridor parallels the Suncoast Parkway corridor several miles to the east.

Suncoast Parkway
This new corridor from the Hillsborough County line to the Hernando County line is a four-lane limited-access toll facility that opened in 2001 and is part of the SIS. It is planned to eventually extend northward to connect with US 19 (SIS) north of the Florida Barge Canal in C.

Pinellas County

I-275 (Howard Frankland bridge to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge)
I-275 is a limited-access freeway facility from the Howard Franklin Bridge to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and is part of the SIS corridors. It is primarily a six-lane divided roadway with the exception of four-lane sections from the Howard Frankland Bridge to Roosevelt Boulevard and south of I-175 to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. There are eight lane segments near I-175 and I-375 in the downtown St. Petersburg area and on the Howard Frankland Bridge between Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties. The corridor includes I-175 and I-375.

US 19 (Gandy Boulevard to Curlew Road)
The US 19 corridor in Pinellas County extends from SR 586 (Curlew Road) to SR 600/US 92 (Gandy Boulevard). It is an urban six-lane divided highway with single and multiple left-turn lanes. There are also grade-separated intersections at SR 580 (Main Street), CR 501 (Countryside Boulevard), SR 60 (Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard), SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard), SR 688 (Ulmerton Road), CR 611 (49th Street North), and SR 600/US 92 (Gandy Boulevard) as well as parallel service roads between some intersections.

Scheduled improvements include additional grade-separated intersections and the addition of lanes in some locations. This route is a SIS corridor. It also carries a significant amount of local traffic throughout the day in addition to truck traffic. It is the primary link between Pinellas County and the heavily populated western portions of Pasco County to the north.

SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) (Seminole Boulevard to I-275)
This corridor extends from the interchange at I-275 west nine miles to Seminole Boulevard. This facility is a six-lane divided highway with single and multiple left-turn lanes at major intersections. US 19 and Roosevelt Boulevard are grade-separated corridors with signalized intersections at the on-/off-ramps located on Ulmerton Road. The roadway is urban throughout its entire length. As a designated Regional Freight Mobility Corridor, its primary purpose is to connect the freight activity centers in west central Pinellas County with those on the east side and the I-275 corridor that connects to Tampa, the Port of Tampa, and intermodal rail facilities.

SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) (US 19 to US 92)
From Ulmerton Road (SR 688) southeast 4 miles to Gandy Boulevard (SR 694), SR 686 is a four- to six-lane divided urban arterial highway with interchanges at SR 688 and I-275. This facility provides another connection from the airport to I-275 southbound to St. Petersburg and South Tampa via Gandy Boulevard and Bridge.

US 92 (Gandy Boulevard) (Gandy Bridge to US 19)
Gandy Boulevard is a four-lane divided highway extending from the western terminus of the Gandy Bridge to the intersection with Roosevelt Boulevard. From this point, the facility becomes six-lane divided to US 19. It provides connectivity to the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway in Hillsborough County and the Port of Tampa. There is an interchange with I-275 midway between Roosevelt Boulevard and US 19.

SR 584/SR 586 (Tampa Road/Curlew Road) (Hillsborough County Line to US 19)
SR 584/SR 586 extends from the Hillsborough County Line to US 19 and connects the Tampa Road Freight Activity Center located in Oldsmar to US 19, the primary north-south freight corridor in central Pinellas County. The facility consists of a six-lanes with SR 586 branching off SR 584 in Oldsmar before continuing on to US 19. Congestion is a major problem along the entire route especially at the SR 586 split, and at intersections with McMullen Booth Road and US 19.

CR 611 and 44th Street N (SR 688 to 118th Avenue North)
These parallel facilities extend from Roosevelt Boulevard (SR 686) to 118th Avenue North and act as north-south connectors within the extensive East Central Pinellas Freight Activity Center thus providing both truck friendly internal circulation and connectivity to the two major east-west corridors. Congestion caused by high volumes of traffic and long signal timing delays is the primary impediment to smooth freight movement.

CR 296 (Brian Dairy Road/118th Avenue N) (Starkey road to I-275)
This urban corridor extends 8 miles between Starkey Road on the west and the SR 686/I-275 interchange. The roadway terminates at 28th Street North; however, construction is underway to extend it to the I-275/Roosevelt Boulevard interchange. There is also a new grade-separated interchange under construction at US 19. Currently, trucks must turn north on 28th Street North to Roosevelt Boulevard (SR 686). The purpose of this corridor is to provide a third connection between the large activity centers along I-275 and US 19. Planned improvements beyond the year 2008 include converting this corridor to a partially controlled freeway segment from US 19 to east of 40th Street North where it will connect to the partially controlled Roosevelt Boulevard Extension that will continue to the I-275 interchange.