Drivers on Interstate 75 are expected to see a big change starting July 27.
The Florida Department of Transportation reports that motorists traveling south on the highway approaching the Southwest 66th
Street (Williams Road) bridge will gradually merge from three lanes to one starting July 27. Operation hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., and the work will continue through July 30, and then resume Aug. 2.
The reason for the traffic change: bridge demolition and eventual reconstruction.
The speed limit on that part of I-75 will be reduced from 70 mph to 60 mph. There will be concrete dividers to aid drivers through the work zone, FDOT said.
State officials said signs will be posted to alert drivers about the work, and law enforcement officials will be on site keeping a close eye on traffic.
FDOT says all lanes will be open during the day, and northbound traffic won't be affected during the demolition.
Closed since mid-June, the 66th Street (Williams Road) bridge stretches over I-75 and has been hit several times by heavy-duty vehicles riding on I-75 under the bridge.
To prevent such crashes, and to modernize the bridge, the state plans to build a taller, wider bridge that also has bike paths. Work on the bridge should be finished by summer 2027.
The project is part of the state's Moving I-75 Forward project, which will improve more than 30 miles of I-75 between State Road 44 in Sumter County and State Road 326 in Marion County.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Southwest 66th Street Bridge demolition coming July 27
