CLEARWATER – With the Keystone Road construction well past the halfway point, Pinellas County officials say the major widening project is on schedule for completion in the summer of 2013.
When completed, Keystone Road will have double the current capacity with room for further expansion if needed.
Two new lanes are being added over a 3-mile stretch between U.S. 19 and East Lake Road South. A newly constructed median will provide space and underground infrastructure for an ultimate six-lane configuration that could be built in the future.
Another improvement to Keystone Road will be a 10-foot wide multi-use sidewalk that will begin at U.S. 19 on the northern side of Keystone Road to Melon Street where it will connect to the existing terminus of the Pinellas Trail. The 15-foot wide Pinellas Trail will then continue on to East Lake Road, connecting to the existing Pinellas Trail section traveling south to John Chesnut Park.
On the southern side of Keystone Road, a five-foot wide sidewalk will be added to improve pedestrian traffic along the entire 3-mile corridor.
The Penny for Pinellas program is providing $25 million for the project with approximately $7 million provided by Pinellas County’s Department of Environment and Infrastructure, city of Tarpon Springs, as well as Verizon and Clearwater Gas System for making infrastructure improvements as part of the roadway project.
Officials say the project has been proceeding smoothly thanks to favorable weather and a high level of teamwork involving the contractor, county construction management staff, project engineers and the overhead/underground utility companies.
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