U.S. Route 19 in Florida

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the section of U.S. Route 19 in Florida. For the entire route, see U.S. Route 19.

Thomasville, GA
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountiesManatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Levy, Gilchrist, Dixie, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson
Highway system
← SR 18→ SR 19
← SR 56SR 57→ SR 59

U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) runs about 262 miles (422 km) along Florida's west coast from an interchange with US 41 in Memphis, south of Tampa, and continues to the Georgia border north of Monticello.[2][3]

As is the case with all Florida roads with federal designations, the entirety of US 19 has a hidden Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) designation:

  • State Road 55 (SR 55) from the U.S. Highway's southern terminus at US 41 south of Terra Ceia to the junction with US 221/SR 55 north in Perry.
  • US 221 Truck
    .
  • SR 20 from the junction with US 27/US 98 in Perry cosigning with US 27 until the routes split in Capps.
  • State Road 57 (SR 57) from the US 27/SR 20 split in Capps to the Georgia state line north of Texas Hill.

US 19 remains independent of

US 27
between and Perry and Capps.

Route description

A US 19 sign in Clearwater

Manatee County to Pinellas County

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge, carrying I-275/US 19 across Tampa Bay

The road begins at an interchange with

SR 682
at exit 17.

According to a Dateline NBC study, part of US 19 in Florida is the most dangerous road in the U.S. A Florida Highway Patrol test period beginning in 1998 and ending in 2003, as mandated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, showed the stretch of US 19 from Pasco to Pinellas county to average approximately 52 deaths a year, or 262 deaths in the five-year duration of the study. Of these deaths, 100 were pedestrian related making US 19 the #1 worst road to walk on in these two counties.[4] Multiple efforts to improve US 19 have been suggested to FDOT.

Within downtown

Long Island, New York
.

As of 2017, US 19 is built to freeway standards from just south of 49th Street North to just north of SR 580. The freeway has service roads along the length of the route and Texas U-turns at major interchanges.

Pasco County

The US 19 bridge over the Pithlachascotee River between New Port Richey and Port Richey
US 19 in Hudson and Hudson Beach

When

CR 518 (Trouble Creek Road), then dips as it approaches the gateway to Gulf Harbors and curves straight north before reaching Gulf Boulevard. Downtown New Port Richey can be found roughly two miles (3.2 km) north of this point at Main Street which is the northern terminus of unmarked southern CR 595, although the terminus used to be at Grand Boulevard in Port Richey. The bridge over the Pithlachascotee River, which carries US 19 from New Port Richey to Port Richey was a two-lane drawbridge until 1965. An even older version of that bridge is now fishing pier owned by a boat rental dealership.[5]

Just as in Pinellas County, US 19 in

CR 524) is considered to be one of the most dangerous intersection of US 19. However instead of making any genuine effort to improve the intersection by building an interchange, local governments have allowed developers to add a Walmart and smaller stores in the vicinity of the intersection. The closest thing to an interchange that has been considered is an overpass strictly for left-turn lanes.[6]

North of Ridge Road, US 19 passes by the

CR 77 (Regency Park Drive) south of Jasmine Estates, which is only noticed because an 18-screen movie theater is located opposite from the terminus, before turning straight north again near the intersection with Hammock and Ranch roads. The next major intersection is SR 52
in Bayonet Point. The southwest corner of SR 52 is dominated by a flea market which was originally a racetrack.

After curving from north to northeast near the

CR 1
) was built at the turn of the century further north. Between the former and current terminus of CR 1, US 19 is dotted with independent motels, one of which was plagued with so much flooding during the early 21st Century that it was torn down. Another marginal dirt road exists along the east side of this section. North of Little Road, US 19 curves straight north again.

Aripeka Road (CR 595) is located in one of the most rural sections of the county. Despite efforts to preserve some of the land in this section, a new gated community geared toward horse owners has sprung up north of Aripeka Road. US 19's journey through Pasco County ends at

CR 578 (County Line Road) and Holiday Springs RV Resort across from the west end of CR 578.[7]

Hernando County

Tourist sign on US 19 just north of County Line Road (CR 578)

After the intersection at

CR 595 (Osowaw Boulevard) serve as the Gateways to Spring Hill and Hernando Beach, although southbound US 19 travelers can reach CR 595 from Tarpon Boulevard. Osowaw and Tarpon boulevards were once part of the Old Dixie Highway, which crossed over US 19 and back until shopping centers and a portion of Timber Pines
were built along the road.

Evidence of postwar, pre-

CR 589
). Berkley Manor Boulevard is the next intersection but strictly leads to another Deed Restricted Community in Spring Hill. On the opposite side of these two intersections is a shopping center in front of two other roads leading to gated communities.

US 19 leaves Spring Hill north of Northcliffe Boulevard and enters

CR 476
(Centralia Road) is barely notable without signs.

Citrus County

Across the Hernando–Citrus county line, US 19 continues its rural surroundings, but this time has a limited number of left-turn lanes in the center median. Recent development in the area may lead to the addition of such turn lanes.

CR 494
).

As the road approaches

CR 488 in Red Level. A field where American Civil War
reenactments are staged lies just north of the back entrance to a local quarry.

The

Suncoast Parkway extension to Red Level. A smaller four-lane bridge carries US 19/US 98 across the Withlacoochee River
as it crosses the Citrus–Levy county line.

Levy County to Dixie County

CR 326
, looking east along CR 326

US 19/US 98 crosses the Withlacoochee River and immediately enters Levy County and the city of

CR 326 in Gulf Hammock, an old locomotive and caboose are on display. Blinking signals exist over the intersection with SR 24 in Otter Creek
, but the overlap with CR 336 leaves just before the signal.

US 27 Alt. joins US 19/US 98 in Chiefland where SR 500 ends. This intersection was transformed into a 90-degree intersection, which directly faces a local high school. Almost instantly, US 19/US 27 Alt./US 98 encounters the intersection of US 129
.

US 19/US 27 Alt./US 98 makes a sharp left turn near the intersection of

CR 358 twice. After the second crossing of CR 358, it begins to take an even more northerly direction before leaving Dixie County at the Steinhatchee River
.

Taylor County to Jefferson County

US 19/US 27 crossing the Aucilla River, south of Lamont

Immediately after crossing the

Carbur
, Athena, and Pinland.

In

CR 359A
(Wright Road).

In

CR 257B
, as it begins to move in a more westerly direction.

Capps to the Georgia State Line

State Road 57 marker

State Road 57

LocationCapps–Georgia state line, near Thomasville
Intersection of US 19 and US 90 in Monticello

US 27 leaves US 19 in

CR 149 in Monticello. US 19 finally crosses the Georgia state line where SR 57 ends and State Route 3 (SR 3) and SR 300 begin, the former of which is the state route for US 19 into Atlanta, while the latter of which is the state route for US 19 from there to Albany, Georgia
.

History

A US 19 shield used in Florida prior to 1993

US 19 first entered Florida in 1929. It underwent three route shifts (the first in 1933, the second in 1946, and the third in 1951), which adjusted it to its current alignment and created the alternate route in Pinellas County. US 19 was extended to its southern terminus of Memphis in September 1954, when the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge opened to traffic.

From 1956 until 1993, US 19 signs in Florida featured white numbering on a red shield.[10] The "color-coding" of U.S. Highways by FDOT was stopped when the state could no longer use federal funds to replace the signs with anything but the standard black-and-white version; a few red US 19 signs remain.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
SR 55 south) – Palmetto, Bradenton
interchange; southern terminus of US 19
​0.6511.04850th Street West - Bay Colony, Palmetto Point
Terra Ceia1.7252.776Bayshore Drive - Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site
3.0994.987
SR 93) to I-75
south end of I-275 / SR 93 overlap; southbound exit and northbound entrance; US 19 uses I-275 exit 5
South Toll Plaza (northbound only; cash or SunPass)
​4.727.60South Skyway Fishing Pier; Rest Area
Hillsborough​711Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay
PinellasSt. Petersburg10.2316.46North Skyway Fishing Pier; Rest Area
North Toll Plaza (southbound only; cash or SunPass)
14.3023.01Skyway Lane, Pinellas Point Drivenorthbound exit and southbound entrance; I-275 exit 16
14.772
SR 93) – Tampa
north end of I-275 / SR 93 overlap; northbound exit and southbound entrance; US 19 uses I-275 exit 17
15.02324.177
Fort Desoto Park, St. Pete Beach, Eckerd College
16.78427.011

 To I-275 south / 26th Avenue South
17.03527.415
CR 138 west (22nd Avenue South) to I-275 north – Stetson University College of Law
18.59529.926
CR 150
(Central Avenue)
19.03030.626
SR 595 (5th Avenue North) to I-275 north – Seminole, Largo
20.03232.238
 To I-275 / 22nd Avenue North
21.03933.859
CR 184 west (38th Avenue North) to I-275
 – VA Medical Center
Lealman22.05335.491
 To I-275 / 54th Avenue North
CR 216
)
22.99937.013Haines Road (
CR 691
south)		northbound access only
23.38637.636
 SR 694 (Park Boulevard / Gandy Boulevard) to I-275 – Tampa, Pinellas Park, Seminole		interchange
25.27240.671
CR 611 (49th Street North) – Pinellas Park
south end of freeway
26.04841.920110th Avenue Northnorthbound exit is combined with CR 296
26.61142.826
CR 296 (Bryan Dairy Road) to I-275
 / Frontage Road
27.20743.785126th Avenue Northnorthbound exit is combined with CR 296; southbound exit is combined with SR 688
​27.81244.759
 SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) to I-275 – Tampa
Largo28.55845.960
 SR 693 north (66th Street North) – St. Pete Beach		no northbound exit
28.946.5Frontage Road to 150th Avenue Northno access across US 19; southbound exit is combined with SR 686
29.45747.406 SR 686 (East Bay Drive / Roosevelt Boulevard) – Largo
29.96748.227Frontage Road, Whitney Road (
CR 438
east)		northbound exit is combined with SR 686
CR 464
west)
Clearwater32.13251.711Harn Boulevard, Seville BoulevardNo access across US 19; northbound exit is combined with SR 60
32.48352.276
Clearwater Beaches
32.99653.102Drew Street (
CR 528
west)		southbound exit is combined with SR 60
34.01354.739 SR 590 (Northeast Coachman Road) – Safety Harbor
34.56055.619Sunset Point Road (
CR 576
)		southbound exit is combined with SR 590
35.657.3Dimmitt Drive, Frontage Roadno access across US 19
35.90457.782Enterprise Road (
CR 638
)		No access across US 19; southbound exit is combined with SR 580
36.35258.503Countryside Boulevardsouthbound exit is combined with SR 580
36.70759.074 SR 580 – Dunedin, Oldsmar
Dunedin36.959.4Evans Roadnorth end of freeway; no access across US 19; northbound exit is combined with SR 580
38.73662.340
Dunedin Beach, Oldsmar, Honeymoon Island State Park
interchange proposed
CR 752
(Tampa Road)
40.79765.656
CR 776
west (Nebraska Avenue)
41.81167.288
CR 816
west (Alderman Road)
CR 880 west) - St. Petersburg College, Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art
45.43173.114
CR 582 (Tarpon Avenue) to SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) – Downtown
46.84975.396Beckett Way (CR 976 west)
SR 595) – Tarpon Springs, Sponge Docks
48.31177.749
CR 595
north (Mile Stretch Drive)
Elfers50.33080.998

 SR 54 east to SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) – Zephyrhills
CR 518
east (Troublecreek Road)
52.73784.872Main Street - Downtown New Port Richey
CR 595
south)
55.01288.533
CR 524 east (Ridge Road) – Pasco–Hernando State College
​57.02491.771
CR 77
south (Regency Park Boulevard)
Bayonet Point58.77694.591

 SR 52 east to SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) – San Antonio, Dade City
​64.298103.478
CR 1
south (Little Road)
​65.613105.594
CR 595 north (Aripeka Road) – Aripeka
CR 578
east (County Line Road)
CR 595 west (Osowaw Boulevard) to SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) – Hernando Beach, Aripeka
73.435118.182Northcliffe Boulevard (
CR 587
south)
CR 550 west (Cortez Boulevard) to SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) – Bayport, Hernando Beach, Brooksville, Orlando
​80.965130.301
CR 476
east (Centralia Road)
Chassahowitzka, Brooksville
south end of US 98 overlap
​
Mannsfield
CR 490 west (West Yulee Drive) – Homosassa, Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park
94.559152.178
CR 490A
west (Halls River Road) / Grover Cleveland Boulevard
94.686152.382
CR 490 east (Homosassa Trail) – Lecanto
​98.172157.993
CR 494 west (West Ozello Trail) – Ozello
CR 44W west (Fort Island Trail) – Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
101.152162.788

 SR 44 east (Northeast 5th Street) to I-75 – Inverness
101.594163.500
CR 495
north (Citrus Avenue)
CR 488 east (West Dunnellon Road) – Dunnellon
Trooper Ronald Gordon Smith Memorial Bridge over the
Cross Florida Barge Canal
Withlacoochee RiverBridges
CR 40 (Follow That Dream Parkway) – Yankeetown, Dunnellon, Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
​113.270182.290
CR 40A
west
CR 336 east – Williston, Dunnellon, Gainesville, Goethe State Forest
CR 326
Otter Creek135.708218.401
 SR 24 to I-75 – Cedar Key, Bronson, Gainesville
​142.708229.666
Fowlers Bluff, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
Chiefland147.266237.002 SR 345 (Southeast 4th Avenue / Southwest 4th Avenue) – Cedar Key, Bronson
148.043238.252
SR 500) – Ocala, Bronson, Williston
south end of US 27 Alt. overlap
148.158238.437
SR 49) – Trenton, Gainesville, Live Oak
148.963239.733
 SR 320 west (Northwest 19th Avenue) – Manatee Springs State Park
149.511240.615
CR 320
east (Northwest 120th Street)
​149.608240.771
CR 341 (Northwest 60th Avenue) – Manatee Springs State Park
​151.770244.250
CR 346
east (Northwest 140th Street)
​154.610248.821
CR 346A
east (Northwest 165th Street)
CR 55A north to SR 26 east – Trenton, Newberry, Gainesville, University of Florida
Gilchrist156.357251.632
 SR 26 east – Trenton, Newberry, Gainesville, University of Florida
Suwannee River156.969252.617Joe H. Anderson Sr. Bridge
CR 317
south
​158.945255.797
CR 55A
north (Southeast 136th Avenue)
CR 349 south – Suwannee, Branford, Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
CR 55A
south
CR 351
north
169.513272.805
CR 351
south
CR 351
​172.864278.198
CR 358
west
CR 358
east
181.087291.431
CR 358 west – Jena, Stewart City, Steinhatchee
Steinhatchee RiverBridge
TaylorTennille186.411299.999 SR 51 – Steinhatchee, Stewart City, Mayo
Pinland207.083333.268South Red Padgett Roadformer SR 356 east
​209.870337.753
CR 361 south – Keaton Beach, Dekle Beach
​210.663339.029
CR 356A
east (Red Padgett Road)
​211.096339.726
CR 30 east – Foley
former SR 30 east / SR 30A west
​211.929341.067Industrial Park Drive - Taylor Technical Instituteformer SR 362 west
SR 30
overlap
214.672345.481
US 27 Alt.
/ US 98 / SR 30 overlap; south end of US 27 / SR 20 overlap
see US 27 (mile 422.350-451.558)
SR 57
overlap
​248.288399.581
CR 158
west
​248.412399.780
CR 139
south
​248.63400.13 I-10 (SR 8) – Tallahassee, Lake CityI-10 Exit 225
CR 57A
north (David Road)
250.327402.862
CR 158 east (Aucilla Highway) – Jefferson Correctional Institution
CR 259 south (Waukeenah Highway) – Waukeenah
253.626408.171
traffic circle around Jefferson County Courthouse
CR 259
north
​261.968421.597


 US 19 north / SR 3 north / SR 300 north – Thomasville, Ochlocknee		Georgia state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b FDOT straight line diagrams, accessed January 2014
  2. ^ Google (January 30, 2011). "US 19 in Florida" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  3. ^ "End of US highway 19". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "MSNBC report on America's deadliest roads". NBC News. June 7, 2005. Retrieved April 21, 2007.
  5. ^ "Fishing pier, part of old bridge". www.fivay.org. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011.
  6. ^ Orth, Carl (August 4, 2001). "Taking the High Road". Suncoast News.
  7. ^ "Holiday Springs RV Resort and vicinity (Google Maps)". Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  8. ISBN 978-0-8212-2162-4
    .
  9. ^ Kane, Dick (May 25, 2011). "US 19 from West Cornflower Dr. to West Foss Grove Path". Florida Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on August 19, 2011.
  10. ^ State Road Department of Florida (1957). Official Florida Road Map (PDF) (Map). State Road Department of Florida. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  11. ^ FDOT GIS data, accessed January 2014

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