A popular bicycle route south of The Villages is set for an upgrade, which could make bicycle access more difficult.
A preliminary engineering study has begun for improvements to County Road 501, which connects county roads 468 and 470 near the Coleman Federal Correctional Facility. The study will determine whether the roadway will be improved as a rural or urban connector.
A public hearing was held Wednesday afternoon to brief public officials and interested residents about the study.
Amber Gartner, project coordinator for Kimley-Horn, an Ocala engineering firm, said the area eventually may contain more than 15,000 homes and more than 600,000 square feet of commercial and office space. The route is near the Wildwood Springs, Southern Oaks and Landstone developments.
County Road 501 connects with County Road 468 south of the proposed turnpike interchange that would be accessible to Villagers via Morse Boulevard. A project to widen and move utilites on 468 is under way. Gartner said the turnpike interchange will be built sometime over the next 10 years.
Dave Lawrence of the Sumter Landing Bicycle Club said about seven Villages bicycle groups of 20 to 50 riders each normally use 501 weekly at this time of year.
Bicycle access already has been restricted along CR 468 due to the improvements and Sumter County Public Works Director Richard Baier said road shoulders will not accommodate bicycles at the 501 intersection because original improvement plans ignored bicycles.
Baier said 468 under the turnpike bridge also will have no bicycle lanes. He said bicycles will be able to reach 501 via U.S. 301 and 468 from the west.
“We’re taking a step in the wrong direction,” Lawrence said of the lack of bicycle access. “I can’t undo what’s been done, but I’d like to protect what’s going to be done.”
Gartner said the study will include engineering analysis, environmental evaluations and public involvement. More public hearings are planned before the Sumter County Commission acts on a recommended alternative, probably next fall.
