Construction continues on I-75 at Collier Boulevard through 2026

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — Construction continues along I-75 at Collier Boulevard as the Florida Department of Transportation works to improve traffic flow through the busy interchange.

The project stretches from Business Circle South to City Gate Drive. FDOT said the improvements are designed to move traffic through the interchange more efficiently.

“It’s crazy, and we try to avoid it as much as we can,” Diane Yamartino said.

FDOT started construction last year to reconfigure the interchange with new loop ramps and flyover connections. Officials said this is not a diverging diamond interchange like others drivers may have seen in Southwest Florida.

“This is actually just an enhanced interchange where we have new options that we’re providing motorists to get them out of that congested area right at the interchange,” said Jennifer Dorning, a consultant with FDOT.

Crews have nearly finished the elevated lanes coming from the interstate. Workers are now finishing the widening of the section where those lanes merge into the mainline I-75. Dorning said the overnight closures this week are connected to that work.

Southbound lanes on Collier Boulevard underneath I-75 will be closed from 10 p.m. Wednesday through 5 a.m. Thursday, and again from 10 p.m. Thursday through 5 a.m. Friday, while crews pour the widened bridge deck.

Drivers heading south from Golden Gate City will have to take I-75 north to Golden Gate Parkway, turn around, then head back south on I-75 to exit at Collier Boulevard.

Despite the traffic headaches, community members said the work is needed.

“They’re building so much and so fast down here that they have to do something,” Yamartino said. “This has always been a bottleneck area.”

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.