FDOT outlines tentative five‑year work program, local resurfacing and interchange projects for Suwannee County

Amy Robertson, planning supervisor for the Florida Department of Transportation District planning and environmental management group, told the Suwannee County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 4 that the department’s tentative five‑year work program for fiscal years 2027–2031 closed Sept. 30 and will be adopted by the state secretary on July 1, 2026 after the legislative review and public comment period that remains open through Nov. 20, 2025.

Robertson said grant solicitation windows opened this fall: Safe Routes to School (Sept. 30–Jan. 31, 2026), the Transportation Alternatives program (Oct. 22–Jan. 22, 2026) and the SCRAP/SCOP solicitation (Oct. 23–Jan. 22, 2026). She and Transportation Planning Manager David Tyler encouraged local officials and residents to submit comments through the department’s public hearing portal.

Tyler reviewed projects in the tentative program that affect Suwannee County, including resurfacing of County Road 250 (Lafayette County line to the A‑190 Third segment), resurfacing of US‑129 from US‑90 to I‑10, widening and resurfacing of County Road 49 (CR‑252 to US‑90) and the I‑10/US‑129 interchange improvements. The interchange work includes new traffic signals, added left‑turn capacity at ramp terminals and an additional signal at the Busy Bee exit; construction is expected to begin in December with an estimated finish in December 2027.

Local programs engineer Paul Webb described project phasing and noted the district’s constrained SCRAP/SCOP funding. Webb said the district received roughly $36 million in the most recent allocation but had requests totaling about $200 million; he said that, because of market conditions and inflation, many projects come in over budget and counties compete for a limited pool of funds. Tyler and Webb urged local lobbying of state representatives to increase small‑county program funds.

Commissioners asked for clarifications on project limits and access. Webb explained the County Road 250 projects are being advanced in segments and that the packet page describing termini referred to the eastern segment slated for FY28 design. Regarding the small‑scale land use amendment discussed later in the meeting, FDOT staff said access to the property would be to State Road 51 and any entrance permits would be processed by FDOT; alignment of driveways was likely to be coordinated so opposing driveways would not be staggered.

The department distributed work‑program excerpts and a resource guide describing funding programs and application portals. Robertson and Tyler offered to meet individually with county staff or commissioners on potential projects and solicitations.