44th Avenue East signal improvements targeted for late 2026

AI-generated traffic-signal illustration; not a photograph of 44th Avenue East.

Drivers using 44th Avenue East and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard have another project milestone to watch: traffic-signal improvements at the intersection are anticipated to be completed in late 2026, according to the county’s project website.

The timing appears in the corridor’s current-activities section. It is a projected completion window, not a specific confirmed opening date.

Work beyond the main extension

The website also identifies bicycle-lane striping between 45th Street East and Creekwood Boulevard and additional warnings for eastbound drivers approaching Morgan Johnson Road. A dedicated right-turn lane at 45th Street East is listed as complete.

The larger extension includes an I-75 overpass, a Lena Road roundabout, sidewalks and a multi-use trail. The project page lists the final extension segment as completed; the late-2026 signal work should not be confused with the opening of the whole road.

Before your next trip

Check the project’s alerts for current work notices. The published schedule does not establish a guaranteed reduction in travel time.

Source: 44th Avenue East project information, reviewed September 19, 2026.