Port St. Lucie is moving forward with a major infrastructure initiative that includes a $95 million road widening project and a new partial interchange for Florida's Turnpike. Last month, the Port St. Lucie City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that would transfer 7 acres of city land to the Florida Department of Transportation to support the interchange construction. The council is expected to vote on final approval of the land transfer at a future meeting.
The Midway Road Widening Project addresses congestion and safety concerns in the growing community. Currently, crews are focused on the first phase of construction, which expands the road from two lanes to four lanes between Selvitz Road and Jenkins Road. According to FDOT's project timeline, the second phase of widening from Jenkins Road to Glades Cut Off Road remains in the design phase, with construction anticipated to begin in Summer 2027. Beyond the road expansion, FDOT is also improving the Turnpike bridge and designing the partial interchange, which is still in its planning stages.
City officials emphasize that the projects are essential for managing growth in Port St. Lucie. Scott Samples, strategic communications manager for the city, noted that there is currently "a pretty significant gap between the entrances and exits to the Turnpike" in Port St. Lucie. He explained that the interchange aims to improve accessibility while preparing for both current and future population growth. "This is a way for us to try to accommodate the growth that's already occurred, but also the growth that will occur over the next 20 to 50 years," Samples said.
The project has received mixed reactions from residents who experience the ongoing construction. While some find the work disruptive to their daily lives, most acknowledge its necessity. Local resident Erin Scheumeister said construction can be frustrating but expressed support for the expansion. "We definitely needed it to be expanded," she said. "It'll be a lot better and easier to get to work." Beyond the roadway improvements, the Midway Road Widening Project will also include bike and pedestrian paths as well as sidewalks, adding multimodal transportation options for the community.