FDOT Conducts I-75 Southern Corridor Study for Better Highway Improvement

COLLIER CO., Florida — A project to ease traffic flow and prevent congestion may come sooner rather than later in southwest Florida.

It’s called I-75 Southwest Connect, a survey conducted by the FDOT. The study is currently in its preliminary stages, gathering public feedback on how to improve the busy thoroughfare.

A project that needs critical feedback.

“If we don’t go to Tampa, maybe we’ll hit I-75 from time to time,” one driver said.

“I would never have taken I-75 north at this time of day if I hadn’t had to,” another driver said.

The future of the I-75 hangs in the balance from more frequent drivers.

“They should try something because it’s definitely a problem,” said Carter Luks, who travels to Naples for work. “I don’t know how to fix it, but I definitely see it every day. This is problem”.

A problem that looks like it will be solved in the near future in a town hall organized by the FDOT. It is called the I-75 Southwest Connect Project.

“It’s literally the foundation of our entire design, that’s how we start it,” said Adam Rose, FDOT Communications Specialist. “We can’t move on until we get really important feedback.”

The project aims to improve the I-75 corridor from Collier Boulevard north to Bayshore Road. It is in the early stages of getting public feedback on what works and what doesn’t.

“There will be many different sections where we look at possible expansion, look at the use of shoulders, various elements related to improving decoupling – I know that we have several points on this,” Rose said.

Lane extension allowing 8 lanes to be seen, four heading north and four going south between Golden Gate Parkway and Corkscrew Road.

“That would probably be the most important thing—maybe add another lane so that the cars spread out a bit,” said Donald Schoenherr, who traveled from Ohio. (laughs). It’s also a big deal.”

But congestion and other problems will not disappear without feedback from you.

“Wildlife concerns, road noise studies, we will start looking at core samples,” says Rose. “This is a very wide range of research, but we are really doing our homework and this information will help us in how to approach this further.”

Something these drivers would really like to see.

“We’ll see if they add another stripe and it works, that would be great,” Lux said.

And you can contribute to the study by submitting your opinion and comments to the FDOT. You can find out more online right here.