PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has just begun a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to consider proposed improvements on Interstate 75 (I-75) (State Road 93A) in Manatee and Hillsborough Counties. A map detailing the limits of the project is shown below. This project (shaded purple on the map) extends approximately 25.0 miles from Moccasin Wallow Road to south of US 301. This portion of I-75 travels through, or in the vicinity of many communities which include Brandon, Gibsonton, Progress Village, Riverview, Ruskin, and Sun City Center. The predominant land use along the corridor is agricultural with urbanized areas around the Sun City Center/ Ruskin area.

Study Purpose and Need
The purpose for this project is to provide a higher capacity and a safer facility to better meet the future transportation demand in these rapidly developing areas of Manatee and Hillsborough Counties. I-75 is part of the Florida Intrastate Highway System (FIHS) and the Strategic Intermodal System (SIS). Preserving the operational integrity and regional functionality of I-75 is critical to mobility in this region. Future traffic demand along this stretch of I-75 is anticipated to double by the year 2025. This anticipated traffic growth and high levels of congestion create a need to analyze the corridor for necessary improvements to ensure it continues to operate efficiently and safely. This corridor is also designated as an emergency evacuation route.

Proposed Improvements
This PD&E study is being conducted by the FDOT to improve the operational capacity of I-75; currently a 6-lane limited access facility. The Preferred Build Alternative includes the widening or reconstruction of the existing highway towards the inside thereby moving a potential transit envelope to the outside. This alternative includes 2 Special Use Lanes (SULs), such as express lanes to serve regional travelers, and 3 General Use Lanes (GULs) which are separated by a 6-ft buffer in each direction. It also includes a median barrier separating northbound and southbound traffic. By widening to the inside, three lanes and the outside shoulder in each direction would be reused in the proposed typical along the majority of the approximate 25 mile project, resulting in a significant construction and right-of-way cost savings. Interchange modifications or reconfigurations at SR 674, Big Bend Road and Gibsonton Drive are also under consideration. The on-going engineering and environmental analyses will help define the recommended improvements. A no-build alternative is also being considered. The appropriate improvement to be employed will be evaluated and determined in the Project Development phase.

Move your mouse cursor over each interchange to view an aerial photo.