More than half the construction is finished on the most expensive project in Pasco County history, the widening of SR 54. The job was projected to take 21 months, but is more than half finished through the first eight months, according to Pasco County Chief Project Manager Robert Shepherd. He said the project is still scheduled for completion March 2012. “I’d hate to say a date sooner just yet, but we are way ahead of schedule,” Shepherd said. “We could have a very cold winter or rainy period and that would slow us down again.” The project costs $105.2 million, but only $28 million is for construction. The job is widening SR 54 to six lanes from I-75 to Curley Road in Wesley Chapel, a distance of about 3.2 miles. Pepper Contracting Services Inc. is doing the construction. The job also included the temporary closing of portions of Boyette Road and Curley, but those intersections with SR 54 are finished.