Potential study to reroute Crystal River traffic from SR 44 onto Turkey Oak Dr.
Members of the Hernando-Citrus Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) agreed at its Dec. 10 meeting to consider a study to determine the feasibility of rerouting westbound traffic in Crystal River from SR 44 onto N. Turkey Oak Dr., and widening N. Turkey Oak Dr. from two to four lanes.
On Dec. 1, the Citrus County Commission voted to request the MPO study (Commissioner Jeff Kinnard is a MPO member, and Commissioner Scott Carnahan is an alternate MPO member), but the study was not on the meeting agenda and will likely be discussed at the MPO's June meeting. The study would likely take about a year to complete (from June 2021) at a potential cost of $200,000 to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
With the Suncoast Parkway Extension scheduled to open in 2022, with on and off ramps on SR 44 in Crystal River, rerouting traffic from SR 44 onto N. Turkey Oak Dr. could possibly relieve potential traffic congestion.
The City of Crystal River would potentially take over ownership and maintenance of the area of SR 44 between U.S. Hwy. 19 and Turkey Oak Dr. (known locally as NE 5th St.), and the State of Florida would take over (from Citrus County) the ownership and maintenance of Turkey Oak Dr.