Florida set to invest $10.8B in transportation and infrastructure upgrades

ConDig (15-Nov-17). Florida has set aside $10.8 billion for transportation and infrastructure upgrade projects across the state.

Florida governor Rick Scott said the money, which is in the state’s 2018-2019 budget, will be invested in upgrading roads, bridges, airports and seaports.

This includes $1 billion to expand the transportation system capacity, $167.7 million for scheduled repair of 63 bridges and replacement of 18 bridges and $359 million for aviation improvements.

It also features $171.6 million in seaport infrastructure improvements, $1 billion for maintenance and operation and $151.3 million for bike and pedestrian trails.

“The additional transportation investment increases our state’s economic activity, creates jobs and gets our residents to their work and back to their families safely and efficiently,” said Florida department of transportation secretary Mike Dew.

Projects include the $325 million linking of Wekiva Parkway/SR 429 to Interstate 4 and SR 417 in Seminole County; the $218 million project to widen six miles of the Turnpike/SR 821 in Miami and the $157 million scheme to add express lanes to I-95 from Glades Road to Linton Blvd in Southeast Florida.

It also includes the $15 million project to expand the Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) commercial terminal in Lee County and the $1.25 million dredging project to widen and deepen Berth 3 in the Port of Panama City, Bay County.