Limited Two-Way Traffic Flow Restored On I-75

Limited southbound traffic flow has been restored on I-75, bypassing the site of Monday’s tanker truck explosion (just north of Exit 182/Sumter Blvd.). The accident destroyed at least one-third of the southbound side of the Myakkahatchee Creek bridge on I-75.

A temporary crossover lane, constructed to route southbound traffic to one of the two northbound lanes of I-75, opened shortly after midnight , February 6. The other northbound lane allows northbound traffic to pass through the affected area.

The DOT reminds motorists that the Sumter Boulevard on-ramp northbound to I-75 and the southbound exit ramp to Sumter Boulevard remain closed.

Both the northbound exit ramp and the southbound on-ramp at Exit 182/Sumter Blvd. remain open.

Translating this information to practical terms, the Sumter Blvd. interchange at I-75 currently allows a motorist to do only two things: (1) to take the southbound on-ramp and travel on I-75 to Port Charlotte and points beyond; and (2) while traveling northbound from Port Charlotte, to exit I-75 at Sumter Blvd.

The northbound I-75 ramp at Sumter is closed; it can’t be used to travel to Venice and points north. An alternative that motorists may want to consider is to use the northbound ramp at the Toledo Blade interchange.

And because the Myakkahatchee Creek I-75 bridge is being repaired, it is not possible to exit I-75 at Sumter .

The DOT continues to urge motorists to add extra travel time to their trips and to use different routes whenever possible. Motorists are also reminded to drive with courtesy, extreme caution and patience when using I-75.