Pasco County Route 524 as presently configured is signed along Ridge Road from US Route 19 east to the Suncoast Parkway (Florida State Road 589). Pasco County Route 524 was recently extended from Pasco County Route 1 (Little Road) to the Suncoast Parkway upon the recent opening of Phase 1 of the Ridge Road extension. Pasco County Route 524 is planned to be extended east of the Suncoast Parkway to US Route 41 upon the completion of Phase 2 of the Ridge Road extension during 2025.
Part 1; the history of Pasco County Route 524
Modern Ridge Road from Little Road east to Moon Lake Road was a component of post-1945 Florida State Road 587 which can be seen on the 1958 United States Geological Survey Map of Plant City. Florida State Road 587 is shown to have originated at Florida State Road 595/Congress Street in New Port Richey. Florida State Road 587 from New Port Richey is shown following Massachusetts Avenue, Little Road, Ridge Road and Moon Lake Road to Florida State Road 52.
Following Florida State Road 587 being relinquished as a State Road the mainline of Pasco County Route 587 was realigned east of Massachusetts Avenue to Moon Lake Road via De Cubellis Road. The original routing of Florida State Road 587 via Little Road and Ridge Road was reassigned as Pasco County Route 587 Truck. Ridge Road from Little Road (now Pasco County Route 1) west to US Route 19 in Port Richey appears to have been first signed in the early 2000s.
Patch.com reported Phase 1 the Ridge Road extension had opened on January 2, 2023. The Ridge Road extension is noted to have been planned by the Pasco County Economic Development Council during the early 1990s. Phase 1 of the Ridge Road extension extended it from Moon Lake Road 4.2 miles east to the Suncoast Parkway (Florida State Route 589) as part of Pasco County Route 524. Phase 2 of the Ridge Road extension is noted to be planned to connect the highway from the Suncoast Parkway approximately 4 miles east to US Route 41 by 2025.
Phase 1 of the Ridge Road extension can be viewed on the Pasco County Government YouTube page.
Part 2; a drive on Pasco County Route 524
Pasco County Route 524 and Ridge Road can be accessed from Florida State Road 589/Suncoast Parkway Exit 25. Traffic is only given a westbound control city destination of New Port Richey whereas there is no eastbound control city.
Below the current eastern end of Pasco County Route 524 can be seen approaching Angeline School Road.
Westbound Pasco County Route 524 spans from Florida State Road 589 west to Moon Lake Road/Pasco County Route 587. Pasco County Route 524 at Moon Lake Road begins a multiplex of Pasco County Route 587 Truck.
Pasco County Route 524/Pasco County Route 587 Truck westbound multiplex along Ridge Road to Pasco County Route 1/Little Road. Pasco County Route 524 continues west of Little Road to US Route 19 via Ridge Road in Port Richey. Pasco County Route 587 Truck turns south on Pasco County Route 1 towards mainline Pasco County Route 587 at Massachusetts Avenue.
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