Overnight construction crews have moved into the Interstate 75 and State Road 52 interchange in eastern Pasco County, kicking off a short but intense round of late-night work that drivers have been waiting on for years. The Florida Department of Transportation says the goal is simple enough: rework key ramps and add lanes so the rush hour logjam at this busy crossroads finally starts to loosen up, all while keeping most of the heavy lifting out of daytime traffic.
New project alert! Construction is underway to make improvements at the I-75 / SR 52 interchange. For project details, closure info, and to sign up for email alerts, please visit https://t.co/shEG1t4Ok2 https://t.co/Nnu8h9ydNP
— FDOT West Central - Tampa Area (@MyFDOT_Tampa) April 27, 2026
Project details and timeline
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the work is part of a $2.1 million contract awarded to C.W. Roberts Contracting. The project officially went into construction last Tuesday, April 21, and is slated to wrap up in late summer or early fall.
FDOT’s Tampa Bay project page lays out the nuts and bolts of the job. Crews will re-stripe the northbound I-75 exit to create a two-lane ramp to SR 52. They will also add a two-lane ramp from westbound SR 52 to the southbound I-75 entrance, install dual left-turn lanes from eastbound SR 52 to the northbound I-75 entrance ramp, and provide two receiving lanes on the northbound entrance ramp. The same project listing warns of nightly lane closures on SR 52 from west of I-75 to Tradeway Boulevard/Pasco Road while the overnight work is underway and invites residents to sign up for email alerts.
Why this matters locally
People who live and work near the interchange told Spectrum Bay News 9 that SR 52 has been getting steadily busier as new housing and commercial projects come online. Long waits and jumpy crossing maneuvers during peak hours have become a regular part of the commute, they said. A local golf club manager described a dramatic spike in traffic volume, underscoring why the added lanes and new ramp configurations are getting a warm reception from many drivers, even if the overnight cones are not anyone’s favorite sight.
Residents and local officials also told the station that they see this as only one step in a larger fix. FDOT has said a traffic signal is planned for a future phase, although that signal is not included in the current contract.
Sign-ups, contacts and what to expect
For anyone who wants to track the work more closely, project updates and closure calendars are available by signing up through the Florida Department of Transportation website, or by following FDOT West Central - Tampa Area on X for shorter, last-minute alerts.
The project listing also provides a project information contact, John McShaffrey, at 813-975-6930 and email [email protected], along with a media contact, Kris Carson, at 813-975-6060 for press inquiries. Drivers should be ready for short overnight lane closures and shifting traffic patterns as crews move through the different ramp segments, then see normal patterns return during the day.
What to watch next
In the bigger picture, county and regional planners point to the rapid growth around I-75 and SR 52, including large mixed-use projects, as the reason FDOT has teed up multiple capacity improvements along this stretch. Reporting by WUSF notes that developers and public officials expect more growth and more road work in the years ahead. For now, though, the focus is on finishing the re-striping and ramp changes and keeping daytime traffic flowing while the night crews do their work.
