Pasco County, Fla., officials are considering building a $550 million tunnel underneath a frequently congested intersection just north of Tampa, Fla., according to news sources.
The project would cost more than four times as much as alternative plans that include construction of a $134 million system of elevated lanes.
The county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization suggested the tunnel project in January, but a citizens’ task force recommended elevated lanes, along with three other options.
Although the Florida Department of Transportation might not agree to such an expensive project, the MPO agreed to study the tunnel option for 30 more days. If the MPO decides not to move forward with the tunnel project option, it will work with the FDOT to decide scopes of work and begin studies on the four options favored by the task force, according to a Pasco County memorandum.
