If you regularly travel I-75 through Marion County, Florida at night, prepare for some changes to your commute. The Florida Department of Transportation has announced several upcoming lane closures during the week of September 21-26, 2025.
Understanding why these closures are happening can help you plan better and stay safe on the road.
1. Nighttime Milling And Resurfacing Operations
Road crews are tackling essential pavement improvements on northbound I-75 between 8 PM and 6 AM. This overnight schedule minimizes impact on daytime traffic while allowing workers to safely complete critical resurfacing work.
Expect reduced speed limits and potential delays of 15-20 minutes. Consider alternative routes if possible, especially during the middle of the week when work intensity typically peaks.
2. Wildlife Protection And Relocation Efforts
Gopher tortoises, protected under Florida law, must be safely relocated before construction can proceed. Specialized wildlife biologists are carefully extracting these creatures from their burrows along the highway shoulders.
The process requires precision and patience, with each tortoise individually tagged and monitored. This environmental stewardship adds necessary time to the project but preserves Florida’s unique ecosystem balance.
3. Shoulder Closures For Vegetation Management
Daytime shoulder restrictions allow crews to clear overgrown vegetation that affects driver visibility and creates wildlife hazards. Though not full lane closures, these work zones reduce emergency pull-off areas.
Always maintain extra following distance when traveling through these sections. Maintenance teams are removing invasive species and trimming back growth that encroaches on the roadway, improving long-term safety for all motorists.
4. Smart Infrastructure Upgrades
Beyond just repaving, crews are installing fiber optic cables and smart traffic monitoring systems beneath the roadway. These technologies will enable real-time traffic management and prepare I-75 for future connected vehicle technologies.
Workers need extended closures to properly trench and secure these sensitive systems. The temporary inconvenience delivers long-term benefits through reduced congestion and improved emergency response capabilities.
5. Part Of The Multi-Year ‘Moving I-75 Forward’ Initiative
Current closures represent just one phase of a comprehensive improvement plan spanning Marion and Sumter counties. Future work will include interchange redesigns, additional lanes, and modernized safety features.
FDOT plans to complete all phases by 2028. Regular updates are available through the Moving I-75 Forward website and mobile app, where you can also sign up for text alerts about unexpected closures or schedule changes.
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