What’s Happening With Morris Bridge Rd.? The Big Changes At 3 Key Intersections

Construction at the intersection of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. at MB Rd. (Photo by Joel Provenzano)

If it feels like Morris Bridge Rd. (MB Rd.) has been in a constant state of change lately, you’re not imagining it. From New Tampa through Wesley Chapel, this important north–south corridor, once considered little more than a two-lane country road, has seen closures, construction crews, and long-awaited reopenings — with even more changes on the horizon. 

As Neighborhood News has reported over the past several years, MB Rd. is gradually transforming from a quiet rural connector into a critical link between several fast-growing communities in Hillsborough and Pasco counties. 

Here’s a closer look at what’s recently been completed, what’s under way, and what’s still to come — with a focus on three intersections that are shaping the future of the MB Rd. corridor. 

MB Rd. At Future K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. 

As we first reported in April 2024, the final phase of K-Bar Ranch in Hillsborough County is more than just another residential expansion — it’s a long-planned transportation connection that will finally open all of K-Bar Ranch to MB Rd., benefiting both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents alike. That vision is now becoming reality. 

Construction is under way on the eastward extension of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. past Easton Park to MB Rd. Once completed, this connection also will allow access from Wesley Chapel, including from Union Park and Meadow Pointe, via the planned Wyndfields Blvd. extension to the south and the existing Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension. 

The map of the planned K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. extension we ran in Apr. 2024. (Source: NN) 

Although the Neighborhood News first told our readers the story of this future connection about a year and a half ago (see map), crews are now actively building the new phase of K-Bar Ranch, and the collector road that will extend Wyndfields Blvd. south into the New Tampa development. For Union Park residents in particular, this means a new and more direct route into Tampa — and fewer bottlenecks on already-crowded roads. 

Turn lanes are currently being added along MB Rd. at the future K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. intersection (top photo), and a traffic signal will follow. The signal is required under the developer agreement and will help manage the increased traffic once the road opens. 

According to the K-Bar Ranch III CDD Preliminary Engineer’s Report (Jan. 2025), construction on the overall final build-out is planned to run from Mar. 2025 through December 2028, and is broken into two phases. 

Phase 1 includes 471 single-family homes, followed by 188 townhomes in Phase 2. Based on issued permits and the pace of construction, it’s likely the road connection will be completed before Phase 2 even begins — possibly even this year. 

In short, the long-anticipated direct connection between K-Bar Ranch, Union Park, Meadow Pointe and MB Rd. is now closer than ever. 

MB Rd. At Bonnet Hole Dr. 

Just north of Cory Lake Blvd. (less than two miles south of Cross Creek Blvd.), the Hillsborough County section of MB Rd. reopened the week of Christmas after a full closure that frustrated many residents — particularly those still remembering the road’s prolonged shutdown following Hurricane Milton in Oct. 2024. 

The Dec. 8-Dec. 22 closure was necessary to complete stormwater drainage repairs between Apache Dr. and Bonnet Hole Dr., as Hillsborough County explained in a public release. To put it plainly — collapsing and aging culverts under the roadway had to be fully replaced. 

Although only a small segment of MB Rd. was actually shut down, detours were lengthy due to the lack of alternative routes. During our communications, county officials acknowledged the inconvenience to residents. 

Typically, fully closing the road allows crews to complete the work much faster than staged lane closures would have, especially on two-lane roads where it’s harder to shift traffic and breakup the digging into two phases, due to limited space. 

Chris Wilkerson, senior media relations strategist for Hillsborough’s Public Works Dept., told us this single stormwater project cost approximately $240,000. When asked if more closures are coming, Wilkerson confirmed that two additional stormwater-related closures are expected on MB Rd. in 2026 — one just north and one just south of the recent work area — so residents will need to keep an eye out for when those closures are announced. 

MB Rd. at Chancey Rd. (Pasco) 

Meanwhile, in Pasco County, the long-closed intersection of MB Rd. between S.R. 56 and Chancey Rd. finally reopened just before Christmas, ending months of detours and speculation about what went wrong. 

Despite early rumors of the closure being caused by a “sinkhole,” Pasco officials clarified that the issue was actually a damaged, buried 16-inch water main. When the main failed, it washed away soil beneath the roadway, creating a large underground void that looked like a sinkhole, but was not a traditional limestone collapse. 

The unexpected discovery of the water line — struck during routine work — complicated the repair. Replacement parts had to be specially ordered, delaying construction for months. Pasco officials had warned residents back on Sept. 19 that delivery and installation of the water main alone could take at least eight weeks, followed by another five to eight weeks to rebuild the road. 

In the end, the project was completed almost exactly within that extended timeframe. 

But, while the intersection is now open, some residents have been disappointed to see no new left-turn lanes added. According to Pasco officials, those improvements are part of a larger widening project that is still in development. 

The county’s current Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) list, adopted in June 2025, shows plans to widen MB Rd. to a four-lane divided roadway between S.R. 54 and S.R. 56. Construction is tentatively scheduled in two phases: 

2028 – From S.R. 54 south through the Chancey Rd. intersection 

2029 – From south of Chancey Rd. to S.R. 56 

Of course, the project has already been delayed once and timelines could change again. 

The Big Picture 

Taken together, these three intersections tell the story of MB Rd. today — a corridor under pressure from rapid growth, environmental challenges and aging infrastructure — but also one that’s steadily being improved. 

Some work is finished, some is still under way and more is coming in the next few years. For residents of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel alike, the changes along MB Rd. promise better connectivity in the long run, even as the short-term disruptions unfortunately continue. 

As always, the Neighborhood News will keep you updated with what’s happening with the MB Rd. corridor — one closure, one construction zone and one reopening at a time. 

Charlene Joyce Files To Run For State House District 54 Seat Against Randy Maggard

Local Realtor and registered nurse Charlene Joyce is a conservative Republican running in Nov. 2026 for the Florida House District 54 seat currently occupied by Rep. Randy Maggard. (Photo by Charmaine George)

Charlene Joyce has filed to run in the Nov. 2026 mid-term elections for the State House District 54 seat which covers parts of Pasco County, including Dade City and some of Wesley Chapel, and is currently held by fellow Republican Randy Maggard. 

Charlene is a conservative Republican who lives in Dade City and says she disagrees with legislation Rep. Maggard filed in November to prohibit counties and cities from adopting their own rules related to water quality, wetlands, and pollution control. 

“The State House is trying to put more emphasis on [its own] power,” Charlene says, “rather than trying to let the people make the decisions for where they live.” 

She says overdevelopment is a big issue, and that Pasco County needs smarter ways to grow. “It shouldn’t take an hour to get somewhere that’s 20 minutes away,” she says. 

And, while she says she has nothing personally against Maggard, “God put it on my heart that I need to try to make a change, and make a difference in the lives of others.” 

Charlene says it’s important to her to listen to her future constituents, and to maintain the beauty of Pasco County. 

“I listen more than I talk,” she says. “I want to ask people questions, [find out] what’s important to them, keeping it grassroots, conservative, and helping others protect their rights as parents and landowners.” 

Charlene grew up in Wesley Chapel and is a single mom of two children, ages 6 and 3. She attends Life Church in Wesley Chapel, and says faith is central to her campaign, which she sees as a calling. 

She also is a licensed registered nurse and obtained her R.N. degree through Rasmussen College in Tampa in 2018. She is the health care administrator for a residential facility in Hillsborough County for the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), where she cares for female residents, ages 12 to 18. 

“One of my pushing points for running was when I started working at DJJ,” she says. “I saw a lot of things that could be implemented through legislation and a lot of loopholes that could be closed.” 

For example, she says, while DJJ employees are drug tested before they are hired, there is no Florida statute that requires testing throughout employment. 

“I’ve encountered people who came to work smelling like marijuana,” she says, “and that’s unacceptable in a place with youth.” 

However, she says, since residential facilities are contracted out to third party providers, they stick closely to legal requirements. 

“They do what they have to do,” she says, “but not anything extra, because it’s money out of their pocket.” 

She says her experience working with the youth in the facility where she works has been moving. On the weekends, she volunteers there with a team from a ministry called Set Free out of Pinellas County. 

For kids who want to participate in the Set Free program, Charlene and the team bring Christian music and Bible teaching. She says she brings hope to the youth in her facility, most of whom have experienced trauma such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse. 

“No one is hopeless,” she says. “God always finds a way, letting them know they are loved and valued. It’s so important for a child to thrive and to walk a different path. These children may have made some bad decisions that put them in a position that might alter their lives for the worse, but I want to take that opportunity to change it for the better.” 

Charlene also is a licensed real estate agent who obtained her Florida real estate license in 2024. 

She says she is looking forward to the election, which will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. 

For more information about Charlene’s campaign for State House, visit CharleneforStateHouse54.com, or follow her on Facebook or Instagram @CharleneforStateHouse54. She can be contacted at (813) 333-8612. For more info about Charlene’s real estate business, visit CJoyceHomes.com.

Ground Broken On Wiregrass Ranch Medical Building Near Orlando Health Hospital

So, as we’ve previously reported, despite all of the new stuff and everything that has already been built, the Wiregrass Ranch development is still at less than 40% of its approved capacity. 

But, with the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital nearing completion, that number is going to rise and it will also bring two affiliated medical office buildings into the fold in the future. 

But now, Wiregrass Ranch, the Porter family and its Locust Branch Development are partnering with Flagship Healthcare Properties (which is based in Charlotte, NC) to begin building a separate 46,000-sq.-ft. medical outpatient building (rendering below) within walking distance of the second hospital to open in Wiregrass Ranch. 

On Dec. 9, Flagship and Wiregrass Ranch hosted a groundbreaking event at the site of that new medical office building, which will have as its anchor tenant Florida E.N.T. (Ear, Nose, Throat) & Allergy. Those entities were joined by Precise Construction, Ardurra Engineering, Kasper Architects & Assoc. and Atlantic Union Bank for the groundbreaking, which was led by Flagship’s executive VP of development Dev Gregg (4th from left in photo, above), who first thanked everyone involved in the project. 

“All we build are medical outpatient projects,” Gregg said. “We have been working on this project for about three years and are proud to be here today.” 

Gregg also thanked Florida E.N.T., “(Physician partner) Scott Powell and his team. Florida E.N.T. will occupy 12,000 sq. ft. of the building and is also a partner in the project. We’re really proud to be working with them.” 

He then thanked JD Porter and Scott Sheridan (5th & 6th from the left in the top photo) of Locust Branch. “They’ve been wonderful to work with. It’s harder and harder to put these projects together, but they’re partnering with us on this project and we’re excited to have it come out of the ground.” 

He added that, “We’re looking forward to this project being an asset to the community, the health care providers in the area and the patients.” 

For more information, visit FlagshipHP.com. 

U-F Agriculture Students Receive $1 Million From Kirkland Ranch Property Sale

We receive a lot of press releases in our Neighborhood News inbox, but I honestly can’t remember ever having seen a press release saying that someone was donating a million dollars in a ceremony in Wesley Chapel we were invited to attend. 

So of course, when we were invited by the Community Foundation Tampa Bay to visit the Kirkland Ranch property on Curley Rd. on Dec. 8 because the Foundation was going to be presenting a $1 million grant “on behalf of the Marvin & Elizabeth Holloway Foundation to the Alpha Gamma Education Foundation,” I knew that I wanted to be on hand for it — even though I had never even heard of the Holloway or Alpha Gamma foundations before. 

And, while we never just run press releases, as it turns out, this is the best way to understand why the event was being held: “The philanthropic investment builds on the recent sale and permanent conservation of nearly 1,000 acres of Kirkland Ranch, a historic Pasco County property owned by the Kirkland family for generations. The State of Florida purchased the ranch earlier this year following a multiyear effort championed by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and supported by the ranch’s leadership and shareholders. The sale preserved the land in perpetuity and generated more than $20 million in philanthropic assets now stewarded by Community Foundation Tampa Bay.” 

OK, but who are Marvin and Elizabeth Holloway? Elizabeth Kirkland Holloway, who passed away at age 103 in 2024, was the sister of Cicero Kirkland, who began developing the Kirkland Ranch in 1949 with his son Raymond. 

The release also said, “With the initial gift of the land to Community Foundation Tampa Bay, the Community Foundation was able to ensure the Kirkland and Holloway families’ legacy by converting a complex donation into lasting charitable impact that benefits agriculture, youth services, health care, and environmental education.” 

“The Holloway Foundation’s $1 million grant is a powerful example of how charitable giving can create meaningful, long-term impact,” said Marlene Spalten, president & CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “We are honored to carry forward the Kirkland and Holloway families’ philanthropic legacy and grateful that this gift will support the next generation of Florida’s agricultural leaders.” 

But, what is the Alpha Gamma Education Foundation? “This grant to the Alpha Gamma Education Foundation (Alpha Gamma Rho, or AGR, is the agricultural fraternity at the University of Florida in Gainesville) will support students in the [U-F] agriculture program, including scholarships that will help prepare them for careers in agriculture and related fields — an enduring priority for the Kirkland and Holloway families.” 

At any rate, on hand for the check presentation were (l.-r. in the top photo) Alpha Gamma Foundation pres. Steven Hall, Kirkland family & Holloway Foundation trustees Caesar Rinalvi and Bob Sharp, Dist. 54 State Rep. Randy Maggard, Spalten and Comm. Simpson. At right is a photo of Elizabeth “Betsy” Holloway and far right is the plaque presented in her honor to Rinalvi and Sharp by AGR, “in grateful appreciation of the generous gift remembering (Betsy’s father) Cicero, Jack & Raymond Kirkland (Betsy’s brothers) to create a lasting legacy for Alpha Gamma Rho and the future of Florida Agriculture.” 

How will the grant help AGR and its Education Foundation? 

Hall said, “Some of the money will be used to pay off the mortgage on the AGR frat house (in Gainesville). But, the bulk of the money will fund $20,000-$40,000 per year in scholarships for agriculture students at the University of Florida in perpetuity.” 

Congratulations to all! — GN, photos by Charmaine George 

New Wendy’s To Open Soon!

This location at 7803 Curley Rd. at Victory Crossing Dr. (near the Starbucks north of Overpass Rd.; see map) appeared to be ready to open (see photo) a couple of weeks ago, as the electronic menu boards were already operational. But, as of today, the new Wendy’s still looks no closer to opening. The restaurant, featuring a covered outdoor patio, is 2,239 sq. ft. and will have the usual Wendy’s fare, from breakfast items to burgers and chicken sandwiches to Frostys.