I-75 expansion coming soon

Public may offer comments, opinions to FDOT


A digital rendering of the improvements planned to widen Interstate 75 [Florida Department of Transportation].

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Posted July 2, 2024 | By Caroline Brauchler
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The Florida Department of Transportation has provided more details on the project to expand Interstate 75 through Marion and Sumter counties.

By adding auxiliary lanes in each direction of I-75, FDOT said the projects will decrease travel delays from accidents in the short term and ease congestion and traffic from growth in the long term.

An auxiliary lane is the portion of the roadway that separates traffic entering or exiting the highway to allow drivers to speed up or slow down.

The project was first announced in December 2023 and is estimated will cost about $475 million to complete. The project is being funded by the state through Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “Moving Florida Forward” project, an effort to improve infrastructure and roadways statewide.

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2025. FDOT estimates that the project will three to four years to complete once construction begins.

The project is in the design phase, and in the process of receiving Project Development and Environmental approval. A June 26 public hearing gave citizens the opportunity to learn about the southern portion of the project and to give comments. Public comments and opinions on the project can be submitted to FDOT until July 8.

To review the project materials in person, visit the Marion Oaks Public Library, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. Comments can be submitted online at cflroads.com/project/452074-2

Scope of the project

This project is called Phase 1 of the improvements, but the widening of I-75 is expected to provide benefits to roadway users for the next 15 to 20 years. After that, FDOT said it will revisit the roadway’s needs and reevaluate for improvements in the future.

The entire I-75 master plan spans from State Road 326 in northern Marion County to State Road 44 in Sumter County. The most recent public hearing for the project focused on the southern portion of the project, from State Road 200 to SR 44.

The southern portion alone is slated to cost $230 million. The northern portion, including the interchange project at Northwest 49th Street, is slated to cost about $294 million.

Why changes are needed

I-75 now sees every lane of the highway closed for one out of every nine days. At least one lane is closed due to an accident every 13 hours. Of those accidents, 52% are rear-end crashes and 22% are sideswipe-related accidents.

“I-75 often experiences heavy congestion on the weekends and can experience major delays around spring break, summer holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Traffic during these times can be almost double that of a typical day,” said FDOT.

Beyond the short-term relief on I-75, the project is also expected to help alleviate strain in the long term that is expected from growth in the Ocala/Marion County area and throughout the state.

“Improvements in the long term will also be needed to improve capacity and address growth in population, visitor, traffic and freight activity. By 2050, Florida’s population is projected to increase by an additional 23%, adding over 500 people per day. Marion County’s population is expected to grow by 24% and Sumter County is expected to increase by an additional 52%,” said FDOT.

Stormwater drainage

Because of the construction and expansion of the I-75 roadway, retention ponds will be needed next to the interstate on both sides to prevent flooding.

“Stormwater ponds collect the rain that runs off pavements and other impervious areas to prevent flooding. Later, after pollutants are filtered out, the water is slowly released,” said FDOT. “FDOT decides where to build new stormwater ponds by studying nearby locations, taking into account elevations, soil type, the existing water table, and what body of water will get the runoff.”

In the southern portion of the project, 31 stormwater drainage ponds have been proposed, which would take up about 193 acres. The northern portion is expected to need 10 ponds in 15 basins, taking up about 192 acres.

To speak with the project manager for the southern portion of the I-75 widening project, contact Stephen Browning at (386) 943-5422 or at [email protected]

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