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Florida Gov. DeSantis announces I-75 expansion, $70B in road improvements, new Buc-ee's

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Published  February 25, 2025 10:56am EST
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FOX 35 Orlando

DeSantis announces I-75 expansion, $75B in road improvements

On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced expansion plans for I-75, $75B in road improvements and the possibility of a new Buc-ees location.

The Brief

    • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hosted a news conference Tuesday morning in Ocala.
    • DeSantis was joined by Jared Perdue, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation.
    • At the news conference, DeSantis announced the expansion of I-75, $70B in road improvements and the possibility of a new Buc-ee's location.

OCALA, Fla. - On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced expansion plans for I-75, $70B in road improvements and the possibility of a new Buc-ee's location. 

He made the announcement with the help of Jared Perdue, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), at a news conference Tuesday morning at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing in Ocala.

The governor was joined by other officials and community leaders at a groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion following the news conference. 

What is included in the I-75 expansion?

What we know:

DeSantis said the expansion will create more lanes on a more than 30-mile stretch between State Road 44 in Wildwood and State Road 326 in Ocala, as well as a new 49th Street interchange in Marion County.

In addition to the project, several other major roads will receive improvements, including the Interstate 4 expansion project expedition in Orange County.

The governor said the expansion plans are estimated to take three to four years to construct. 

The expansion project is expected to bring a multitude of job opportunities to the local economy.

The expansion plans could also include possible new Buc-ee's stores in Treasure Coast, Leon County and Daytona, DeSantis said.

Why is the expansion important?

The backstory:

The governor emphasized the importance of investing in Florida’s infrastructure to support economic development, as well as maintain efficient roadways.

DeSantis said the expansion is critical to addressing the region’s evolving transportation needs as the state's population growth continues to boom.

The expansion is being accelerated through the Moving Florida Forward program. Through the program, DeSantis said that under his leadership 20 major roadway improvement projects are years ahead of schedule.

According to a press release from DeSantis, at least 20 major interstate and roadway projects across the state have been expedited through the 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, which is designed to enhance access to local businesses and increase capacity for drivers in Panama City Beach.
  • 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.

The project is part of a broader effort by the FDOT to modernize highways across the state.

What they're saying:

"We launched Moving Florida Forward in 2023 to accelerate road projects with an emphasis on alleviating traffic," DeSantis said. "We are accelerating this I-75 project near Ocala because residents and visitors alike need relief from the congestion. This project was not slated to begin for another 10-15 years, but thanks to our program, construction is now underway."

"Thanks to Gov. DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, congestion relief along I-75 will be delivered 10-15 years ahead of schedule," Perdue said. "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."

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference hosted Feb. 25, 2025, in Ocala, as well as in a press release sent by DeSantis shortly after. 

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