River Road expansion proposal will significantly cut down on evacuation time
Anyone who has traveled River Road from just north of Englewood to the I 75 offramp knows that it can be a tedious, time-consuming, even dangerous drive. Recently the Florida Department of Transportation District One held a public workshop to explain the proposed widening of the road, and while the design is not yet complete it appears the proposal will become a reality.
The plan calls for the road to become three lanes running each way from U.S. 41 to Center Road and two lanes running each way from Center Road to just south of I-75. The project length is approximately 5.06 miles.
Other inclusions in the proposal are shared use paths, raised medians, wildlife crossings, signing and pavement markings, lighting, signalization and Intelligent Transportation System features.
The stretch of road from Englewood to U.S. 41 is still being discussed, but it is estimated just that stretch of road will cost Sarasota County approximately $24 million.
Between the recent Winchester expansion project that runs from S. McCall Road to River Road and these new plans, hurricane evacuation time will be cut significantly in the future.
