WCOM NEWS

1-21-04

 

Miramar Boulevard to be widened to four lanes

MIRAMAR--With residential and commercial projects planned, the widening of Miramar Boulevard may be about to begin.
Miramar Boulevard, from University Drive to Stacy Lane, would be expanded from two to four lanes to accommodate the expected increase in population and traffic.

As part of an agreement, the two Hampton Park Plat developers -- Housing Trust Group of Florida and Centerline Homes Inc. -- have to pay for roadway and traffic signal improvements to the affected area. The two companies plan to develop 100 acres of land at the southwestern corner of Miramar Boulevard and University Drive.
"They must complete the roadway before they get the certificate of occupancy," said Walt Lyon, the city's traffic engineer. Workers have been preparing the roadway for the construction project.
"We are waiting for final approval from [the Florida Department of Transportation], and hope to start construction in 30 days on the roadway," said Robert Stiegele, executive vice president of Centerline Homes Inc. "We are waiting to get the final permits and then will start on drainage."
Roadway improvements include right-and left-turn lanes, sidewalks and modifications of the traffic signal at University Drive and Miramar Boulevard.
"The signal will be moved back a couple of feet so it can be out of the right of way," Stiegele said.
Centerline Homes' 396-townhome/condo community, Murano, is under construction on 45 acres of land. The project is expected to cost about $50 million.
The first phase of the project is sold out, Stiegle said, and the second portion will go on sale in April or May.
The Murano project is expected to last through 2005.
Last year, the Housing Trust Group sold 30 acres to Centerline Homes, which hopes to build 311 condominiums for a community to be called Tuscany.
"The site plan has been submitted and we are waiting on comments," said Stiegele, who intends to go before the City Commission within two months. Once started, construction of this $50 million project would take three years, Stiegele said.
Also in the plans is an $18 million shopping center by Housing Trust Group on 25 acres on University Drive. "We are about to submit the site plan to the City Commission," said Randy Rieger, principal owner of Housing Trust Group.
If approved, it would take about six months to break ground, he said.

(source) Sun Sentinel (Nicole T. Lesson) 1-21-04