Marion County Commission Meeting Inspires Lively Discussion About the 484 Interchange at I-75

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion Oaks Flyover and the interchange of HWY 484 and I-75 were topics of discussion as updates were provided on road projects in Marion County at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

The FDOT Florida Ford Project in Marion County is split into two phases: the Southend that includes the 484 interchange and on the Northend that includes the brand-new interchange at 49th, where the Buc-ees is going. Work is proceeding with the Northend, as good relationships are being built with the contractor, and things are moving forward, said Tracy Straub, Marion County assistant administrator.

However, it’s a different story on the Southend. There are a lot of negotiations going on, financial negotiations with the contractor, and they’re not making as much headway as they would like, said Straub.

“[The FDOT] suggested to us (Marion County) that they do not see that we’re going to be able to add the 484 interchange into that project with theirs,” said Straub. “They don’t think there’s an issue at all there for us to continue it outside of their relationship that they’re having with their contractor, that we can move it back into our regular work program, and of course we’ll continue to look for funding opportunities with DOT to do so.”

Marion County Commissioner Kathy Bryant, Dist. No. 2, stated that the need is not at the Northend of the county, it’s at the Southend of the county at the interchange of 484 and I-75, and the project needs to be a number one priority on the DOT’s list, as it affects countless lives daily, and it will continue to become more challenging, with the exponential growth that has taken place in the area. With limited progress on the project, and the fact that it hasn’t been completed, it’s putting people lives at risk on a daily basis.

The state annually talks about the excess money that they have, and then they try to come up with ways to cut local government funding because they have excess funds, said Bryant, who asked for the state to take some of the excess money and put it toward this project specifically.

“That is absolutely unacceptable and ridiculous,” said Bryant. “We’ve been fighting that interchange down there for years. We have citizens down there that have to fight that traffic on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, in this commissioner’s opinion, the state should be putting forth every penny and every effort that they’re taking and giving throughout the state, and they should pour all of it into fixing that interchange on I-75.”

They have opened the southbound turn lanes on 484 and they’ve seen immediate relief with that, and the northbound turn lanes are due to open in several more weeks, said Straub.

“We’ve had the conversations offline, we’ve lobbied, we talked, we’ve done everything,” said Bryant. “I have had citizens who’ve had to sit in that traffic on a daily basis. It’s terrible. If [members of the FDOT] were sitting in it on a daily basis, this would’ve been handled a long time ago.”

Bryant was adamant and emphatic in saying that resources need to go toward getting the project completed.

“The state needs to put their resources into fixing this project, and if they need more money for the contractor, then go get more money for the contractor and fix it,” said Bryant.

Commissioner Craig Curry, Dist. No. 1, suggested sending additional letters and making phone calls to the FDOT. However, Commissioner Bryant asked, how many letters have we written? How many phone calls have we made? How many meetings have we had?

“How long has this been going on, and nothing has been rectified,” said Bryant.

There are some internal thoughts on how the county can proceed forward, said Straub. Because that interchange was included as part of the overall I-75 effort, it’s included in some of the federal analysis, and that’s very important with that interchange.

“They are prepared to amend some of their federal permitting that would help us through that process,” said Straub. “NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) has to be adhered to, and they would look to amend what they have, and they can do that. They’re checking on that and making sure. In the meantime, your county engineer does have a 484 project that he’s initiated to widen 484 under I-75. And widening 484 under I-75 is why the bridge had to be rebuilt. We’re going to do some modifications to that.”

The county already has a consultant on board for the Project Development and Environmental study. The PD&E is expected to be done mid-year in 2027. However, there are unknowns, and that was one of the things that county had to work out with the FDOT and how 484 will be widened. The PD&E study allows the county to figure out how that will be done, as there will be property impacts. The county will work through that timing, and will go after all the funding, and FDOT is still a funding partner; it will have to be pursued through that other project.

Regarding the 66th St. Bridge, FDOT is in negotiations currently with that contract on I-75. They do believe they will be able to put on the finishing touches, with construction starting later this summer, said Straub.

As of April 20, what was relayed to the county by DOT, staff needs to verify, that once the turn lane movements opened up for that interchange, it flushed it out, and people are not waiting on the side of I-75. What happens when commuters get on to 484 is still concerning, said Straub. The same thing is supposed to happen on the other side of I-75, and then with that at this point, they’re able to better time the signal interaction between the on and off ramps, and then 475A is the big pinch point, that signal timing, with all of that being addressed within the next two months.

“My frustration is directed at the people who are making the decisions on how to allocate the funding, and where to set the priorities, where to send the racehorses,” said Bryant. “I cannot comprehend how anybody who’s ever had to drive that corridor, especially at peak hour times, and it’s not even peak hour times anymore, it’s pretty much all day long.”

The county did meet with John Tyler, FDOT Dist. 5 secretary, as there is an ongoing effort to tie in a number of projects across the county, whether it’s the work on 80th Ave., the work from the interchange to 80th Ave., or whether it’s the 484 work itself, said Straub.

The other project that needs to move as quickly as possible to help the 484 is the Marion Oaks Flyover, said Marion County Commission Vice Chair Matt McClain.

“Another east-west across I-75, that one will help as much as anything we’ll do on 484 when it comes to widening,” said McClain. “That project has to go as fast as possible.”