Governor Ron DeSantis announces the groundbreaking of I-75 expansion in Ocala as part of Moving Florida Forward initiative
Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis
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.
Why? The idiots traveling I-75 are too busy looking for horses to pay any attention. Don’t know if I’ve ever seen a bigger clustercluck of traffic, for no reason, except when traveling I-75 north or south through Marion County.
Looking for horses staring at their phones while driving is more like it.
I constantly see horses staring at their phones while driving. There should be a law against this.
Also tell the retiree drivers to use 441 instead. Until autonomous cars take hold.
Yes, retiree drivers should not be allowed to use I-75. Except anti woke drivers. Sleeping while driving is OK.
Man dang now ima get fat from eating to many beaver nuggets
I-75 is a dangerous, white knuckle experience due to the quantity of traffic, and how much of it are trucks, and through Ocala is the worst part of it due to adding in local traffic. So, this is well needed and glad it will happen soon. We travel to S Florida to visit our daughter and family and have taken to traveling through Palatka to get to I-95, which is easy in comparison with much less truck traffic. Takes maybe a 1/2 hour longer but feels much safer.
I note that all these projects are on federal highways which means federal money is involved but typically not mentioned by DeSantis. Given this plan did not happen overnight, you can bet the Biden administration was instrumental through the Infrastructure Law passed early in his term. Unlike the current president, Biden’s program’s benefitted the entire country and more money was spent in needed red counties than blue.
We could have separate truck lanes like in New Jersey. Not having tractor trailer rigs speeding by makes driving much less stressful.
It’s fun to watch state and local GOP politicians gloss over the fact that these projects are being expedited as a result of the Biden infrastructure bill they opposed.
Regardless of any senseless partisan bickering by other commenters, more space in this region is needed and this will be a huge lift. Getting a Buc-ees is also a win.
When the governor has a habit of partisan mud slinging at every opportunity and then acts like our state doesn’t get federal help on many of the projects he announces and takes credit for, noting this fact is not “partisan bickering”, it is giving proper credit.
15 years ahead of schedule?
sounds like the under promise, over deliver technique to look like the highway hero. lol
Would be nice if they could extend the merge lanes between Archer and Williston roads so they connect… the newly opened side roads will help once they go all the way through…
Auxiliary lanes are just extending on ramps to the next off ramp. They are not through lanes.
don’t plan on the trucks and RV’s using them.
That’s disappointing. I suppose it might help with local on and off traffic which must be why Ocala is the worst stretch other than the area around the exit south at SR 484.