OCALA, Florida – Governor Ron DeSantis announced a major expansion of Interstate 75 today, spotlighting a $550 million project aimed at easing traffic woes along a critical stretch of one of Florida’s busiest highways. Speaking at a news conference held at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, DeSantis outlined plans to widen a more than 30-mile section of I-75 between State Road 44 and State Road 326 in Marion County, complete with a new interchange at 49th Street. The I-75 expansion, expected to take three to four years to complete, addresses surging demand driven by Florida’s rapid population growth. As a vital artery handling 15% of the state’s visitor traffic and serving as a primary hurricane evacuation route, the highway’s upgrade is seen as long overdue. "Today, I announced the groundbreaking of over 31 miles of new auxiliary lanes from State Road 44 in Wildwood to State Road 326 in Ocala on I-75. This important congestion relief project—part of our Moving Florida Forward Initiative—has been fully funded and is on track to be completed 10-15 years ahead of schedule," DeSantis posted on X. Governor DeSantis Announces I-75 Expansion Groundbreaking in Ocala https://t.co/g6DuW0UXLY — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) February 25, 2025