The Florida Department of Transportation plans a $3.5 million project to add left-turn lanes at State Road 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

What FDOT plans at SR 54 and U.S. 41

Construction is expected to begin in fall 2027, and the project remains in design, according to FDOT’s project page. The work would widen the intersection’s north, east and south legs to make room for the lanes, remove some medians, and mill and resurface a 0.63-mile stretch.

FDOT documents cited by the Tampa Bay Times say the southbound U.S. 41 lane would begin near Carson Drive, the northbound lane at Leonard Road, and an eastbound SR 54 turn lane at Raden Drive.

FDOT held a public meeting Oct. 5 at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. Residents raised concerns about traffic and potential spillover into nearby areas, Tampa Bay 28 reported. Resident Sara Hymel told the station she avoids the intersection because of long turn queues. FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson said the changes are intended to improve safety and congestion but would not solve every traffic problem.

Lake Patience Road signal underway

FDOT began work during summer 2026 on a separate $1.4 million traffic signal where Lake Patience Road meets U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, the Times reported. The project also includes resurfacing, sidewalks, pedestrian features and lighting. The signal is expected to be finished in summer 2027.

Lake Patience Road, though just two lanes, has become a heavily used route to Sunlake Boulevard as nearby housing has grown. Many drivers use it to bypass the SR 54 and U.S. 41 intersection at rush hour, the Times reported.

A larger interchange is a separate, longer-term project

FDOT’s preferred alternative for a major overhaul is a diverging diamond interchange, with U.S. 41 elevated over SR 54 and SR 597 (Dale Mabry Highway), according to the agency’s project update. The Federal Highway Administration published a notice of final federal agency actions on the project in August 2026. That approval covers environmental and other federal actions; it does not mean construction is underway. The two turn-lane projects are separate from the interchange proposal.

Residents with questions about the turn-lane project can contact FDOT design manager Eyra Cash at 813-975-6164.