Major road work is about to kick off in Hernando County. According to officials, the construction surrounding I-75 and State Road 50 is expected to last for at least a few years.

  • Project will take from July 2016 - fall 2019,
  • I-75 will be widened, exits and overpasses revamped, bike lanes added
  • Community members invited to open house July 14 at Ridge Manor Community Center to discuss

The plan is to rebuild both the interstate bridges, widen State Road 50 on both sides of the interchange, and add bike lanes. Transportation officials say prep works should start in July. They estimate that this large of a project could take until fall 2019 to complete.

Tyshea McRae works nearby and is not looking forward to the construction.

“I think it is going to cause a lot of backups around here,” McRae said.

Officials say they also intend to widen a portion of I-75 from four to six lanes.

Paul Attard, a nearby resident, said he considers the project a ‘win-win’ in a variety of ways.

“It's creating jobs, safer driving conditions,” Attard said. “To me it's a win-win situation."

Transportation officials say lane closures will be done at night. There will be an open house Thursday July 14 at the Ridge Manor Community Center from 5 to 7 p.m.