Collier County secures $2 million for Everglades Boulevard interchange study

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. —

Collier County leaders are taking the next step toward a possible new interchange at Everglades Boulevard and I-75 after securing $2 million in federal funding for a feasibility study.

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart presented the check to Collier County commissioners Monday in Naples.

The study will look into whether an interchange at Everglades Boulevard is possible. Right now, drivers can cross over I-75 on Everglades Boulevard, but there is no access to get on or off the interstate. For people living in eastern Collier County, the closest interchange is at Collier Boulevard.

County Commissioner Bill McDaniel said residents have been asking for an interchange in the area for decades.

“This appropriation is going to assist the residents of Collier County, especially in eastern Collier County,” McDaniel said. “Long-awaited necessity for our community to enhance health, safety and welfare of our community. Evacuation routes, transportation, all the way across the board.”

Collier County previously pursued a new interchange at Everglades Boulevard in 2013, according to the county’s website, but the Florida Department of Transportation did not support the project at the time.

The proposed interchange is already included in the Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization’s 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan. The project is listed with an estimated cost of more than $42 million.

County leaders say the project could help improve traffic flow and create another evacuation route for residents living in eastern Collier County, especially as the area continues to grow.

Supporters have also started an online petition pushing for the interchange, saying it could help with traffic, commutes and emergency evacuations.

Officials say the newly secured federal funding only covers the study phase. Even if the project moves forward, construction would still likely be years away.

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