PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — It’s a question that drivers have asked for years in north Pinellas County: Will East Lake Road ever be widened to accommodate the growing traffic?
What You Need To Know
Pinellas County is asking for money in the state budget to widen East Lake Road
The county has been studying the widening since 2021
Congestion is common on the four-lane road between Tampa Road and Trinity Boulevard
The county is now asking the state to fund just that.
State Rep. Adam Anderson (R-Palm Harbor) made an appropriations request of $15 million in the new state budget for capacity improvements to East Lake Road.
Widening East Lake Road is an issue that Pinellas County has been debating for years. In fact, the county is currently doing a study on it.
East Lake Community Library Director Lois Eannel said the topic comes up often there.
“East Lake has become very congested. Very heavily traveled,” Eannel said.
And she would know.
Eannel commutes on it each day from Trinity in Pasco County.
In fact, southwest Pasco County is where a lot of the traffic comes from on East Lake Road because of all the development there.
“What was originally a 15-minute ride from Trinity, is at least double during certain times of the day,” Eannel said.
That’s why she’s interested in a possible widening project.
Pinellas County is now asking for the state funds to reduce congestion and improve safety, according to the appropriations request.
East Lake Road is just a four-lane road from Tampa Road to Trinity Boulevard. That’s where a lot of the delays tend to happen.
Eannel said she feels adding lanes could help — though she’s a bit skeptical.
“I don’t know if there is a long-term solution. You have a lot of people and a lot of cars,” Eannel said.
The funding would go to Pinellas County if the Florida Legislature approves it in the state budget. There’s currently no timeline for construction.