Pinellas Trail North Gap Project
Project ID
000967A
Project Location
Pinellas Trail, from John Chesnut Senior Park in Palm Harbor to Enterprise Road in Clearwater
Project Status
Construction: Completed
The construction of the Pinellas Trail North Gap project is complete and the trail opened to the public in August 2022, with the exception of the new pedestrian bridge over the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal.
The bridge is scheduled to begin construction in spring 2023 and is expected to be complete before summer 2024.
While the bridge is being constructed, a temporary connection of the trail from the intersection of Tampa Road and McMullen Booth Road to East Lake Rd S. is available via existing sidewalks in the area. Trail connection signage has been added.
Overview
The Pinellas Trail Loop is a 75-mile regional trail network that provides Pinellas County residents and visitors with an additional safe, reliable and affordable transportation option for recreation and access to many county amenities.
When complete, the Loop will be a continuous multi-use pathway stretching from Tarpon Springs to St. Petersburg, with connections to Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor, Largo, Seminole, South Pasadena and Gulfport. The Loop will also provide regional connections to Hillsborough and Pasco County trail networks and link to the western end of the Florida Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail, a 250-mile multi-use trail that will cross the width of Florida.
Background
The Pinellas Trail first opened in 1990 on an abandoned railroad line. Since then, the 15-foot-wide trail has been extended across the county to create a unique urban pedestrian and bicycle connector to our communities. The Pinellas Trail has been hailed as a priceless haven in a busy, urbanized environment and has won numerous awards.
- The Pinellas Trail was inducted into the National Rails to Trails Hall of Fame.
- The Trail is a two-time winner of the Best Trail of Florida award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Greenways and Trails.
Project Description
There are two remaining gaps in the Loop, referred to as the North Gap and the South Gap (see map above). The Pinellas Trail North Gap project extends 6.8 miles from John Chesnut Sr. Park to the Duke Energy Trailhead at Enterprise Road in Clearwater. Along the way, this segment will offer users access to many residential neighborhoods, commercial centers and recreational facilities, including John Chesnut Sr. Park, Westfield Countryside Mall and the Countryside Community Park.
The project will generally consist of a paved 12-foot-wide surface with 2-foot-wide unpaved shoulders on both sides. However, in a few areas, the trail width will transition to an 8-foot paved surface due to property restrictions. The trail will be designed and constructed to meet all federal and state Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and safety standards.
Project Funding
The Pinellas Trail North Gap is funded through a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation with additional funding supported by the Penny for Pinellas.
Questions and comments can be submitted by visiting the Contact Us page.