PBS and NPR for Southwest Florida
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

I-595 has a Bumpy Launch

Doug Kerr via Flickr

Things should get better by the end of June, but the new I-595 reversible lanes are off to a rough start.Drivers were taking advantage of the lanes when they were free - but started avoiding them once toll charges kicked in.

There have been some other problems, including uneven manholes. And a merge to the Sawgrass Expressway comes too soon for drivers - who have to cross over four or five lanes within a half a mile.

Smoothing over the manholes is an easy fix that will be done by June 24th. But building the Sawgrass Expressway merge could take years.

A lane bridge will eventually connect the I-75 express lanes to the I-595 lanes. That'll be completed by 2017.