Crashes rise 16% on State Road 200 in Ocala amid construction

Motorists drive on State Road 200 in Ocala. [File photo by Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette]

Ocala City Council members and Ocala Police Chief Mike Balken on July 15 raised growing concerns over a spike in traffic accidents along a stretch of State Road 200 that is under construction.

The increased number of crashes have occurred between Southwest 36th Avenue and South Pine Avenue, where construction work has altered driving patterns. According to Balken, crash numbers have risen from 105 between January and June 2024 to 122 in the same period in 2025, a 16.19% jump.

Balken noted at the council meeting that the construction, which intensified in March and April of this year, has led to multiple complaints about traffic conditions. He expressed hope that drivers would adapt to the new driving patterns, particularly the U-turns required due to newly installed concrete medians, which Mayor Ben Marciano identified as a primary cause of the accidents.

“Our traffic guy was saying that it’s the U-turns that are now being required… that’s where the accidents are occurring,” Marciano stated.

City Council President Kristen Dreyer emphasized the need for drivers to adjust to slower speeds, a key goal of the Florida Department of Transportation’s project. She also requested data on the types of crashes occurring compared to pre-construction incidents, to better understand the issue.

Balken committed to providing further analysis within the next one to two months.

The council remains optimistic that as drivers acclimate to the changes, crash rates will decline, aligning with FDOT’s safety objectives. In the meantime, residents are urged to exercise caution and adapt to the new traffic patterns on SR 200.