Citing a reduction in traffic throughout the state amid efforts to combat COVID-19, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) officials said the agency has accelerated $2.1 billion in infrastructure projects.
“The Governor understands that Florida’s transportation system is the backbone of our economy and FDOT is proud to accelerate projects, which will help expedite goods to market and provide much needed jobs throughout the state,” said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault regarding the effort at the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis. “Safety is our top priority, so we will continue to ensure that employees have the sanitation supplies needed to follow the guidance from the CDC and work with our industry partners to implement these same precautions to keep workers safe and healthy.”
Projects to be expedited, per FDOT, include the Howard Frankland Bridge project in the Tampa Bay area, which will be accelerated by nearly four weeks; the widening of Southern Boulevard (SR 80) in western Palm Beach County will be accelerated by nearly three months; phase one of construction on the US-1 Cow Key Bridge in Monroe County will be sped up by one week; and the Diverging Diamond Interchange on SR 200 (A1A) at Interstate 95 in Nassau County, the first of its kind in northeast Florida, will be accelerated by two months.