VENICE, Fla. ~ Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis marked the completion of a $61 million widening project on River Road (State Road 777) in Sarasota County.

The project expanded five miles of the road between U.S. 41 and Interstate 75 from two lanes to six. The state and Sarasota County jointly funded the work.

DeSantis said the project was completed ahead of schedule and would help meet travel demand and relieve congestion. Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared W. Perdue said the improvements were intended to strengthen connections and serve Southwest Florida for years to come.

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The corridor had originally been planned for expansion to four lanes, but the department increased the scope to six lanes to provide additional capacity, according to the release. River Road has been a regional transportation priority involving FDOT, Sarasota County, the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization and other partners.

The project also added 10-foot-wide shared-use paths on both sides of the road, along with upgraded lighting and signals, pedestrian islands and ramps designed to meet accessibility standards. Two wildlife underpasses were built to allow animals to cross beneath the roadway, the release said.

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