From an engineering perspective, Suncoast Parkway 2, State Road 589 Expansion project has all the makings of a great movie. The project defied the odds through a recession and a tropical storm.  Seeing the fruit of DRMP’s design engineering services materialize into a major connecting roadway – despite these hurdles - is rewarding, quite frankly. 

This project allowed us the opportunity to continue serving our client Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, who we’ve worked with for over 25 years.  DRMP had the honor of working on the $135 million Segment 1  of the three-phased project that spans Citrus and Hernando counties in Florida from US 98 to State Road 44. My team and I designed nine of the 27 miles of the project’s new limited-access roadway, which improved accessibility and alleviated capacity on nearby roads in Citrus County. Of the 27 miles, the first 13 miles were opened to traffic in early 2022. 

Along with my team’s transportation design engineering services, our firm’s ecological, structural, and water resources/stormwater management engineering and surveying teams continue to play an important role in the project’s ultimate success. As a Project Manager for this project, it gives me great pride that it won the Florida Transportation Builders Association’s (FTBA) 2022 Rural Project of the Year.

Connecting West Florida

The name of the award, Rural Project of the Year, is fitting.

Citrus and Hernando counties are rural in terms of geography within the state, but residential development and flourishing new businesses outpaced the effectiveness of its connector roads, including Suncoast Parkway. The project increased capacity to ease traffic congestion and improve safety by creating full interchanges in areas with significant growth. In addition, Crystal River in Citrus County draws thousands of tourists and local visitors yearly who enjoy fishing, boating, observing manatees, and exploring nature. Taking all of this into consideration, Segment 1 of the project, with the installation of a four-lane all electronic toll (AET) facility along those 9 miles, provided mobility for a good portion of northern Hernando and southern Citrus counties, ultimately creating regional connectivity in West Florida.

Overcoming Project Challenges

The Suncoast Parkway project weathered its fair share of challenges. At the height of the recession in 2008, the project was put on hold. On top of that, Tropical Storm Debby came through the area in late 2012 and caused part of our project south of US 98 to go under water. We worked with FTE to do an emergency drainage design, which required lifting the road 10-plus feet to alleviate flooding. Thanks to the level of skill and resourcefulness of our team, and working to get full permitting in record time, the schedule was reduced from one year to three months and that portion of SR 589 south of US 98 was reconstructed to withstand a 100-year rain event.

A Unique Florida Design

After working through the challenges in funding due to the recession and Tropical Storm Debby, our team developed a great engineering approach. From a design standpoint, when you look at the state of Florida land-wise, it’s typically flat with a high-water table. Because of this, most new roads are built above the existing ground, and fill materials have to be brought in to raise it.

For the Suncoast project it was different. After assessing the geotechnical area and completing a bridge over/under study, my team found that we could cut more than 30 feet below the existing ground which allowed us to use fill to balance earthwork to raise the road. Not having to import that fill, saved considerable time and money.

A-Team Effort

The resourcefulness and skill of the DRMP team made this project award worthy. This job required extensive coordination between regulatory agencies, permitting, and public involvement to keep it moving forward.

While final design engineering was provided for Segment 1 of the project, DRMP’s other disciplines were involved on each part of the overall 13-mile roadway.  A wide range of our expertise is needed in an effort for the FTE to have consistency and streamline services, even today as the project is ongoing. Segment 1 of the project included several wildlife crossings to provide safe passage for migratory animals. DRMP’s Ecological team led the environmental work and permitting for the entire 27 miles of the Suncoast Parkway 2 project. DRMP’s Structures team was responsible for final plans production for bridge sites along State Road 589, and one pedestrian bridge on US 98.

Along with working together as a team, the project is award worthy because of our ongoing relationship with the project’s contractor, The Lane Construction Corporation. Our successful work relationship with Lane, built over many years and projects, allowed the Suncoast Parkway project to be open to traffic prior to the original date.

Working on this project has been a great opportunity. As an engineer, you don’t always have the privilege of working on a project of this magnitude. Having a hand in pushing this project through from beginning to end and making a great impact in connecting West Florida is a career highlight.