OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Marion County Board of County Commissioners have announced that the south gateway project on Interstate 75 is nearing completion. Funded entirely by tourist development tax revenue, the project is expected to be finished by March 2025.
The gateway, located at the 42nd Street flyover, will welcome northbound traffic to Marion County. The county is partnering with the city of Ocala and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to complete the project.
The “OCALA” letters are already in place, while art panels, fencing, and lighting installation continue.
|TRENDING: Safety Matters Initiative urges drivers to stop on red and improve road safety in Marion County
The gateway project aligns with the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ vision to introduce travelers to the county’s character. It includes two county line markers—installed in late 2023—and two representative gateways. One is at the 42nd Street flyover, and the other will be at a future interchange near the planned Buc-ee’s Ocala Travel Center.
With over 1.4 million annual visitors generating more than $1 billion in economic impact, the project is funded through the Tourist Development Tax, collected from short-term lodging stays and regulated under Florida law (F.S. 125.0104).
Marion County contracted Kimley-Horn for project design and construction support, Commercial Industrial Corporation for gateway construction, and Kenco Sign and Awning for county line markers.
Officials anticipate the gateway will enhance visitors’ experience and reinforce Marion County’s identity along I-75.