OCALA, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the groundbreaking of over 31 miles of new auxiliary lanes to be added to I-75, from State Road 44 in Wildwood to State Road 326 in Ocala. This latest Moving Florida Forward project has been fully funded and is beginning 10-15 years ahead of schedule.
“We launched Moving Florida Forward in 2023 to accelerate road projects with an emphasis on alleviating traffic. We are accelerating this I-75 project near Ocala because residents and visitors alike need relief from the congestion,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “This project was not slated to begin for another 10-15 years, but thanks to our program, construction is now underway.”
“Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, congestion relief along I-75 will be delivered 10-15 years ahead of schedule,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “With nearly 114,000 vehicles driving the corridor daily, these improvements will make traveling easier and bring a $2.3 billion economic impact to the region.”
In 2023, Governor DeSantis announced the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative. As part of the initiative, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) identified a selection of critical needs on state-owned roadways. Additionally, FDOT identified previously approved projects with broad community support that lacked funding to begin construction. Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ fiscal prudence, $4 billion from the General Revenue Surplus was able to be committed to the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative to fund and expedite construction on these projects to relieve congestion, improve safety, and enhance Florida’s supply chain.
At least 20 major interstate and roadway projects across the state have been expedited through this initiative, including:
- The expansion of lanes and the addition of express lanes along I-4 in Polk and Osceola counties, which will reduce congestion and streamline traffic for travelers trying to get into Orlando.
- The addition of regular and express lanes on I-275 in Pinellas County, which is projected to reduce travel delays by up to 85% and adds capacity along a major hurricane evacuation route.
- A redesign of the Golden Glades interchange on I-95 in Miami-Dade County to enhance connectivity between major road corridors in the region;
- The reconstruction of the Fruitville Interchange on I-75 in Sarasota County to a “Diverging Diamond” design, which will increase volume capacity by 40,000 vehicles and reduce the number of conflict points between vehicles getting on and off the interstate and opposing traffic;
- The widening of U.S. 98 in Bay County designed to enhance access to local businesses and increase capacity for drivers in Panama City Beach; and
- The realignment of U.S. 301 from C.R. 470 to Florida’s Turnpike in Sumter County, which is projected to increase mobility and reduce delays by up to 94% during peak hours.
For more information on Moving Florida Forward ongoing and slated projects, visit fdot.gov/MovingFloridaForward.
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