The drive through Ormond Beach is about to look a lot different, and much sooner than expected. Governor Ron DeSantis joined local officials today to break ground on the total reconstruction of the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange, a project that is now moving forward a full year ahead of its already accelerated schedule.
Originally slated to begin in 2027, the project was pushed up through the state’s “Moving Florida Forward” initiative. State officials credited a new, home-grown construction method called “Modified Phased Design-Build” for the early start.
This strategy, developed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), aims to cut through typical bureaucratic red tape to save both time and money.
“I was proud to announce the groundbreaking of the reconstructed I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange a year ahead of schedule,” Governor DeSantis said during the ceremony. “Thanks to responsible fiscal governance, we are in the position to make transformative investments in our state’s infrastructure.”
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The upgrades are designed to handle a massive surge in local growth. Traffic on U.S. 1 is projected to double over the next two decades, and the current interchange is one of the oldest in the state’s highway system. Once finished, the project will increase the capacity of U.S. 1 by 50% and is expected to pump roughly $1.2 billion into the Volusia County economy.
Commuters can expect significant physical changes to the roadway. The plan includes the construction of three new bridges and a complete redesign of the I-95 loop ramps.
To improve safety, crews will extend the northbound off-ramp and southbound on-ramp, giving drivers more space to merge. Additionally, a one-mile stretch of U.S. 1 will be widened to six lanes.
FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue said that the project is about more than just asphalt. “These new enhancements will bring much-needed congestion relief and safety improvements,” Perdue noted, adding that the redesign will also feature decorative architectural elements intended to serve as a “gateway” for the city of Ormond Beach.
By utilizing these new construction delivery methods, Florida has managed to pull this specific project forward by an estimated 15 to 20 years compared to original long-term projections. Work is now officially underway.
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