Hurricane Irma -and the evacuation mess along I-75 that came with it- could lead to changes on and around the busy highway. The Florida Department of Transportation is looking at a future expansion of I-75, specifically in Alachua and Marion Counties- where some of the worst backups took place during evacuations, and where despite it being three lanes in each direction, there are no easily accessible alternate routes. Another option officials are looking at is extending the Suncoast Parkway into Citrus and Marion Counties to ease traffic on 75. Studies on both those projects are set to be done by the end of the year.
