news release

The Indian River County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Office is excited to announce that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is constructing a new interchange at I-95 and Oslo Road, also known as 9th Street SW, in south Indian River County.

FDOT begins construction on the new interchange August 14. Many years of planning, design and engineering work by FDOT-District 4 staff went into this project. The Chamber and its Board of Directors has included this project on its Legislative agenda for more than two decades. Properties adjacent to the interchange, east of I-95, are slated for industrial development.

“This new interchange will open up the south end of our county for new industry,” explains Helene Caseltine, Economic Development Director for the Indian River Chamber. She added that “Many parcels within and adjacent to this area are designated for industrial use, which will accommodate more manufacturing and related uses. It will make transportation of supplies and finished goods much easier for new and existing businesses in south county, plus provide a quicker route for workers traveling to and from their jobs.”

The Chamber’s Economic Development Office organized a ground-breaking
celebration at the site to recognize this milestone event, with many elected officials,
county staff, and FDOT representatives attending.

County Commission Chairman Joe Earman stated that having a third interchange
in Indian River County will help accommodate future growth, though “we need to look at
the proper zoning to control sprawl.” He noted that the County had expressed interest in
this interchange as early as the 1980s. In 2004, the Board of County Commissioners
voted to move ahead with this project.

Steven Braun, Florida Department of Transportation District 4 Secretary,
confirmed the timeline, explaining that there had been a number of attempts in previous
years to move forward on an Oslo Road interchange. Mr. Braun stated that project
discussions between FDOT staff and the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization
(MPO) began about 15 years ago. He added that the “turning point was community
engagement, and the need to balance the infrastructure as the county continues to
grow.” FDOT also considers emergency response and safety, especially in terms of
potential evacuations.

The project includes widening Oslo Road from a two-lane to a four-lane divided
roadway from west of I-95 to 58th Avenue, plus signalization at 66th Avenue and Oslo
Road as well as several other roadway improvements in the vicinity. Construction cost
is estimated to be $95.78 million, funded by FDOT and US-DOT. The project completion
date is anticipated for Summer 2027. Caseltine, from the Indian River Chamber, adds
that “You can be sure we’ll be planning an even bigger celebration for the grand
opening!”

For more information on locating or expanding a business in Indian River County,
call Helene Caseltine at the Indian River County Chamber of Commerce, 772-567-3491
or visit http://www.indianrivered.com.