MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Marion County commissioners received updates on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, on several major transportation and stormwater improvement projects underway across the county, including road widenings, new roadway connections and drainage upgrades tied to the county’s infrastructure sales tax program.
County Engineer Stephen Cohoon told commissioners the county is moving forward with multiple “shovel-ready” projects aimed at easing congestion and improving emergency response times.
“We are now to a point where we can get multiple projects out the door,” Cohoon said. “There’s a benefit to the community of reduced congestion expedited by our EMS services by adding and getting this capacity out to the community.”
Among the projects highlighted was the widening of SW 80th Avenue near West Port High School. The project will add two lanes from SW 90th Street to north of SW 38th Street.
Cohoon said crews are currently extending the southbound left-turn lane at SW 90th Street, installing stormwater pipes and coordinating utility relocations, including gas and fiber lines. He added that property acquisition efforts for the northern phase of the project are progressing, with construction expected to ramp up in the coming months.
Commissioners also received an update on the SW 49th Avenue Segment F project near Dollar General Distribution Center and Marion Oaks. The new four-lane roadway will connect Marion Oaks Manor to an area south of State Road 484.
According to Cohoon, crews have completed gopher tortoise relocations and clearing operations, while grading, stormwater pipe installation, curb work and drainage retention area sod installation continue.
“We’re approaching about a 20 percent completion for Segment F,” Cohoon said.
A related project on SW 145th Place Road, funded through grants, is about 60 percent complete, according to county staff.
Commissioners discussed community concerns surrounding traffic patterns near the new roadway network, particularly at intersections near Heath Brook and along the SW 40th Street corridor. Commissioner Michelle Stone asked county staff about signal timing improvements and whether additional turn lanes could eventually be added to help relieve backups.
“I’ve gotten so much great feedback,” Stone said about the new roadway connections. “That whole corridor is going to be truly amazing.”
Cohoon said county staff are coordinating with the City of Ocala on signal timing adjustments and other traffic-flow improvements.
Commissioners also heard updates on the SE Timucuan Road culvert replacement project near Lake Weir. The stormwater project involved replacing aging metal culverts with new concrete pipe culverts installed at a lower elevation to improve water flow beneath the roadway. Cohoon said the project has already improved drainage conditions in the area.
“There’s no vegetation that I’ve been able to see on the north side of the causeway,” he said. “It is functioning as it has been intended to function.”
Additional discussion focused on long-term flooding concerns along County Road 27 near Interstate 75 ahead of hurricane season. County officials said design work is nearing completion for planned roadway elevation improvements and installation of a permanent pump system intended to reduce flooding issues in the corridor.
Commissioners also unanimously approved a bond-related item tied to the county’s infrastructure sales tax program, which officials said will help accelerate several large transportation projects, including improvements near the planned Buc-ee’s interchange, the SW 38th-40th Street corridor and the Marion Oaks Manor flyover extension.