I agree, backups on I-75 were not uncommon pre-2020 sure, but it certainly seems to have ramped up in recent years. Recently it took us 4.5 hours to drive down to Orlando. It has been so bad recently that my wife and I made a rule of no traveling out of town on Friday evenings anymore cuz that appears to be when the worst backups happen.
That would make since. Ever since Covid hit I've rarely left town and when traveling I've found back roads that are much faster than taking interstate to move through town.
Having lived in Tallahassee for six years previously, that stretch of road has always been terrible. It's the state's main road artery to the rest of the country, and the split into the turnpike backs it up very easily. A lot of warehouses are around that area too, to add to the congestion.
Add onto it the fact that with the exception of Redcoach in Tallahassee and Gainesville and the ridiculously expensive flights to Miami from TLH and GNV (barring Jetblue's 1 FLL flight), it is the primary way for people from the north of the state to get to most of it, short of a longer way down through Jacksonville.
This is where I'd put a paragraph about how some trains would alleviate this, but instead I suspect we'll get a fourth lane to sit in at <10 mph because we can't have nice things on this continent, apparently.
I agree with all of this; I would add that the growth in the Sumter/Lake County area (See: The Villages) has also put a lot more cars on the road in the same area.
There have been numerous times I’ve come into Gainesville and there has been heavy traffic (not game day traffic) over the past 8-10 years I’ve been here regularly
You are 100% correct. I drive from Gainesville to Melbourne almost every weekend and 10 years ago I can tell you that it was a 2-hour trip. Now I'm lucky to get there within 4 hours it's usually a wreck around Orlando area. But your assessment is absolutely accurate I would say based on experience
I'm going to say it's just you. I75 from Gainesville through the Florida Turnpike can be counted on to have a backup somewhere. Same with the Florida Turnpike from I75 to Orlando
Damn near every day.
Almost every time i try to enter i-75 im stuck behind some idiot who is trying to merge at 60 when the traffic is going 75-100, i dont doubt theres been accidents
Sixty would be nice! I’ve had to slam my brakes on at the Archer Road exit multiple times because someone is trying to get on the interstate at 45 when traffic is going 70 and they get forced off the road and then I have to ditch off of the road too. It’s the easiest and fastest way for me to work but I’m seriously considering finding another way. It’s so scary and dangerous.
So much traffic entering there we are lucky to get up to 60. Its a line of traffic often merging at 50. When the trucks can’t move over to middle lane because they are boxed out to allow merging traffic it makes it even worse. It’s bad but still much better then driving through town from archer to 39 avenue.
It is a ticket able offense to drive 15 under the speed limit unless otherwise stated because it is unsafe in Florida but when emergency vehicles are nearby you are supposed to slow down anyway so slowing down to look at an accident can't really be enforced.
I agree, backups on I-75 were not uncommon pre-2020 sure, but it certainly seems to have ramped up in recent years. Recently it took us 4.5 hours to drive down to Orlando. It has been so bad recently that my wife and I made a rule of no traveling out of town on Friday evenings anymore cuz that appears to be when the worst backups happen.
That would make since. Ever since Covid hit I've rarely left town and when traveling I've found back roads that are much faster than taking interstate to move through town.
Having lived in Tallahassee for six years previously, that stretch of road has always been terrible. It's the state's main road artery to the rest of the country, and the split into the turnpike backs it up very easily. A lot of warehouses are around that area too, to add to the congestion. Add onto it the fact that with the exception of Redcoach in Tallahassee and Gainesville and the ridiculously expensive flights to Miami from TLH and GNV (barring Jetblue's 1 FLL flight), it is the primary way for people from the north of the state to get to most of it, short of a longer way down through Jacksonville. This is where I'd put a paragraph about how some trains would alleviate this, but instead I suspect we'll get a fourth lane to sit in at <10 mph because we can't have nice things on this continent, apparently.
I agree with all of this; I would add that the growth in the Sumter/Lake County area (See: The Villages) has also put a lot more cars on the road in the same area.
I regularly travel 75 (about 450 miles of it) and I just expect there to be a bunch of random places that there’s traffic. Been that way for years tho
I75 in specific places yes but not usually around Gainesville.
There have been numerous times I’ve come into Gainesville and there has been heavy traffic (not game day traffic) over the past 8-10 years I’ve been here regularly
It's the easiest way to get through town and a lot of commuter live in the sprawling new xurban developments and rural areas north and south.
Yes, it’s bc there is a significant number of people who moved to FL from out of state during covid and still doing it
You are 100% correct. I drive from Gainesville to Melbourne almost every weekend and 10 years ago I can tell you that it was a 2-hour trip. Now I'm lucky to get there within 4 hours it's usually a wreck around Orlando area. But your assessment is absolutely accurate I would say based on experience
It has been brutal this year. I wish I knew why
Seems like it’s gotten worse lately—more big trucks
I always anticipate the stretch between Ocala and the Turnpike to suck now.
There have been a few accidents this week.
I'm going to say it's just you. I75 from Gainesville through the Florida Turnpike can be counted on to have a backup somewhere. Same with the Florida Turnpike from I75 to Orlando Damn near every day.
Almost every time i try to enter i-75 im stuck behind some idiot who is trying to merge at 60 when the traffic is going 75-100, i dont doubt theres been accidents
Sixty would be nice! I’ve had to slam my brakes on at the Archer Road exit multiple times because someone is trying to get on the interstate at 45 when traffic is going 70 and they get forced off the road and then I have to ditch off of the road too. It’s the easiest and fastest way for me to work but I’m seriously considering finding another way. It’s so scary and dangerous.
So much traffic entering there we are lucky to get up to 60. Its a line of traffic often merging at 50. When the trucks can’t move over to middle lane because they are boxed out to allow merging traffic it makes it even worse. It’s bad but still much better then driving through town from archer to 39 avenue.
Cops should give tickets to anyone who slows down to look at an accident.
It is a ticket able offense to drive 15 under the speed limit unless otherwise stated because it is unsafe in Florida but when emergency vehicles are nearby you are supposed to slow down anyway so slowing down to look at an accident can't really be enforced.
Still the same amount of lanes, several times higher population and pass through. Deadly accident nearly everyday around Ocala
It’s just you
They should extend the Brightline rail up to Ocala and Gainesville.