SR 56 Extension from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to US 301 Design-Build

KCA served as the lead design and environmental consultant to Cone & Graham, Inc. for the design-build delivery of the new 6.1-mile extension of SR 56 between Meadow Pointe Boulevard and US 301 in southeastern Pasco County, FL. This transformative corridor provides a vital new east–west connection, relieves existing regional congestion, and supports significant economic growth in one of the fastest-developing areas of the Tampa Bay region.

Working closely with FDOT, Pasco County, and local stakeholders, KCA delivered full-service planning, engineering, and environmental support, including right-of-way (R/W) services, project development and environment (PD&E) re-evaluation, permitting, utility coordination, roadway and drainage design, and construction support. The new corridor was constructed as a four-lane divided roadway but fully designed to accommodate an ultimate six-lane typical section within a 250-foot R/W. All stormwater management facilities were also sized for the future build-out including provisions for frontage roads. The project introduced three new signalized intersections at Meadow Pointe Boulevard, Morris Bridge Road, and US 301.

A key component of KCA’s work involved leading all environmental and ecological services. Efforts included wetland delineation and functional assessments, species surveys, and securing all major regulatory permits—U.S. Army Corps of Engineering (USACE) Section 404, Southwest Florida Water Management District Environmental Resource Permit (SWFWMD ERP), FDEP NPDES, and FWC wildlife permits. More than 40 acres of wetland impacts were evaluated and mitigated, and KCA managed the relocation of over 150 gopher tortoise burrows. KCA’s water resources engineers developed the comprehensive stormwater conveyance and pond systems required for both the interim and ultimate roadway configurations.

Delivered through an innovative design-build approach, the SR 56 Extension now serves as a major multimodal corridor incorporating a 10-foot multi-use trail, 5-foot sidewalk, and bike lanes in each direction, enhancing safety, mobility, and connectivity for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. The project has become a catalyst for development and improved regional mobility in Pasco County.