Shoulder at interstate exit to reopen Monday

August 26, 2011

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The northbound outside shoulder at Exit 387 (Newberry Road) of Interstate 75 is scheduled to reopen on Monday, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The concrete barrier wall located along the northbound outside shoulder of the interstate will be removed and the newly constructed shoulder will provide additional room for vehicles exiting the interstate. The barrier wall along the ramp will remain.

Construction is under way to widen the existing ramp to allow for the addition of a second turn lane in both east and west directions for northbound traffic exiting the interstate onto Newberry Road, also known as SR 26.

The northbound outside shoulder has been closed and a concrete barrier wall has been in place from just south of the exit ramp to the intersection of Newberry Road to provide an area safe for construction crews and interstate traffic.

The additional turn lanes on the exit ramp will increase safety for motorists exiting I-75, especially critical during early morning and afternoon commute hours and during special events, such as University of Florida home football games and the holiday shopping season.

In addition to the construction of the new turn lanes, the three remaining interstate ramps will also be resurfaced. That work will be done at night and no lane closures will be allowed on weekends of home University of Florida football games or between Nov. 23 and Jan. 2, 2012, for the holiday shopping season.

D.A.B. Constructors Inc., of Inglis is doing the work for FDOT and has until the summer of 2012 to finish the $2.2 million project.

Approximately 8,900 vehicles exit northbound I-75 onto Newberry Road each day to join another 50,000 vehicles already traveling on Newberry Road.

For additional information regarding this project or other FDOT projects around Northeast Florida, visit www.nflroads.com.