TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Governor Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to begin examining ways to help expedite evacuation routes from the I-75/ Florida Turnpike Interchange near Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia border during times of emergencies such as hurricanes. FDOT’s report will be submitted in January 2018.
Governor Scott said, “In preparation for Hurricane Irma, the state worked closely with local emergency management, transportation and law enforcement partners to successfully oversee the largest evacuation in U.S. history. Anytime a natural disaster threatens our state, we must do all we can to ensure Floridians can evacuate safely. That is why today, I am directing FDOT and their traffic experts to begin a comprehensive evaluation on ways to help expedite evacuation routes on I-75 from Wildwood to the Florida-Georgia border. This roadway is a major evacuation route, and it is crucial that residents and visitors can quickly and safely travel in this area during emergencies. We will continue to work with all our partners to make sure we are doing everything we can to ensure our state is fully prepared for all emergencies so we can keep our families and visitors safe.”