Traffic on Hwy. 301

[Gatorgreen]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

[Hardlyworking]

They were doing some work just south of the turnpike. The Villages has nothing to do with the situation on 301.

[vintageogauge]

When there is a problem on the turnpike or I-75 301 is the detour, happens once a week or so. I had a customer come into my store at 3:00 and said it was bumper to bumper all the way from Bushnell to 44. 301 is a state route and only the state can make changes, not TV or Sumter County, or Wildwood or Coleman or anyone else.

[billethkid]

When you see bumper to bumper semi trucks you know there is a problem on either the Turnpike or I-75.

The good news...the cause is being "addressed".

[mtdjed]

When there is a problem on the turnpike or I-75 301 is the detour, happens once a week or so. I had a customer come into my store at 3:00 and said it was bumper to bumper all the way from Bushnell to 44. 301 is a state route and only the state can make changes, not TV or Sumter County, or Wildwood or Coleman or anyone else.

And that is why it is known as US Highway 301?

[JohnN]

shortcut when it's bumper to bumper heading north.

Turn right onto Clay Drain Road (1st right north of the turnpike) and follow it and you'll come up behind Sparr Dr. and you can get onto Powell Rd or Highway 44 if that works for you. Use google maps if needed, but it's worked great for me on many occasions.

[Gpsma]

Barely here six months and already complaining.

[Bogie Shooter]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

Hey what is the date today? Long holiday weekend?
We went to Stumpknockers on the river this afternoon. Went the back way to CR484 to 200 south. Mostly stop and go and until we got west of I75.
The Villages does not maintain the roads outside the villages.
In 10 days try going the same route you were going today………..then come back and tell us your experience!

[VApeople]

We live in The Villages so we don't need to drive on the roads out in the "real world" like U.S. 301, U.S. 441, and U.S. 27.

We only need to venture where Buena Vista and Morse can take us.

[Luggage]

Nice to stay home

[Villages Kahuna]

It’s called not enough north-south road capacity in The Villages. Your only choices to go south of 44 are Morse and 301. Buena Vista dead ends at 44. At the rate houses are being built south of 44 the traffic isn’t going to get any better. Current plans are for more than 50,000 more houses in the ‘south end’ by 2028.

Traffic such as you’re experiencing is one of the reasons we moved here from ‘up north’.One suggestion might be to figure out how to minimize or eliminate trips from south of 44 to other locations in the northern end of The Villages. Find all the things you need further south—or take the Toll Road or I-75 and shop or eat in Ocala.

[Marathon Man]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

Please take some time to learn about how our community is run. I highly recommend resident academy. You will find out that much of what you hear and read is not correct.

[Hardlyworking]

It’s called not enough north-south road capacity in The Villages. Your only choices to go south of 44 are Morse and 301. Buena Vista dead ends at 44. At the rate houses are being built south of 44 the traffic isn’t going to get any better. Current plans are for more than 50,000 more houses in the ‘south end’ by 2028.

Traffic such as you’re experiencing is one of the reasons we moved here from ‘up north’.One suggestion might be to figure out how to minimize or eliminate trips from south of 44 to other locations in the northern end of The Villages. Find all the things you need further south—or take the Toll Road or I-75 and shop or eat in Ocala.

Not quite. Meggison Rd goes south from 44 quite a ways, eventually to CR 470 and the turnpike. Buena Vista will soon be extended to end at Meggison Rd.

[Captainpd]

By the time you post something like this, the problem is already solved and over. I'm not sure how many people care about last night's traffic.

[talonip]

Yes that is the way to go. You can go even farther to get to 44 right before the ER. Been doing that for years.

[golfing eagles]

Please take some time to learn about how our community is run. I highly recommend resident academy. You will find out that much of what you hear and read is not correct.

Doubt it would help most. The true believers in anything----greedy developers, climate change, flat earth, etc are so committed to their ignorant, uninformed opinions that they would simply state they were being lied to at the meeting.

[defrey12]

When you see bumper to bumper semi trucks you know there is a problem on either the Turnpike or I-75.

The good news...the cause is being "addressed".

We live in Hammock @ Fenney and we have learned to check 301 traffic BEFORE we leave the house! Meggison or Morse are often faster routes north.

[MrFlorida]

Friday traffic on a 3 day weekend for the rest of the world, not for us, it's always Saturday here in the Villages.

[Bill14564]

By the time you post something like this, the problem is already solved and over. I'm not sure how many people care about last night's traffic.

But they may care about the traffic next Monday or next Friday or Labor Day or the next time a heavy storm rolls through during a heavy traffic day.

Congestion on 301N at 44 occurs regularly. Villagers and South Sumter people add to it but based on the number of trucks in the mess it seems to be caused largely by turnpike traffic trying to avoid a backed up 75N. Changes in the intersection (additional turn lanes, longer lights, etc) may help and those are part of the 44 construction that is supposed to be going on for the next two years.

[Bridget Staunton]

Thanks for the advice

[Mushkie]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

It’s got nothing to do with The Villages. Thankfully we are retired and don’t have to stress about traffic cuz traffic “ain’t goin’ no where”.

Try the interactive, real time navigation APP called WAZE to get around the traffic. It’s a FREE APP and can help you around the traffic jams. It’s an interactive APP meaning:

1). Drivers on the APP can easily and quickly send weather, police location, traffic and map information to the APP- I have sent info on things like very thick fog, accidents, police presence, hazard on road or on the shoulder, road construction or when the roads have changed. This info is used by WAZE to re-route driving instructions. Frequently, WAZE will send you a message “Traffic detected ahead, new route updated to save you 6 minutes on your route”. Sometimes WAZE alerts you about the additional time but can’t find a different route but since other “WAZER’s” have sent info to WAZE, you will see on the map what the issue- weather it’s an accident or construction or weather. WAZE will send you questions asking if the police or car on shoulder or accident or construction or severe weather is still there.
2). it is monitoring everyone on the APP - so if it detects you have slowed down or is stopped, you can get a message from WAZE asking if you have stopped driving or stopped in traffic.
3). WAZE knows traffic patterns and can help you pick the best time to leave based on the traffic pattern. WAZE works with your calendar and can send you a notification to when to leave. I used to travel to Deerfield Beach a lot and WAZE would update me when traffic was unexpectedly getting worse than predicted and I could leave earlier.
4). WAZE generally chooses routes that are the fastest- but it also chooses routes that have the fewest traffic lights (sometimes with lots of turns) so sometimes it may not seem like it’s the fastest. You can also set it for routes to avoid tolls and ferry routes.

[ThirdOfFive]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??
1. Day before the Fourth of July holiday weekend...people traveling to get together with family; stocking up on food, booze and whatever.

2. 1st. day of the month: Human "traffic" in the lobby and the lines of our bank was as bad as outside on the roads.

3. Friday.

4. Big rain (from about 3 PM on).

A perfect storm of events. Traffic was bad yesterday afternoon no matter where you went in TV or surrounding areas.

[Bilyclub]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

Welcome to TOTV. Like others have stated you can't blame the developer for the problems at the Turnpike and I-75 merge that affect US 301. Wildwood would like to relocate 301 to the West along the railroad tracks.

[Bogie Shooter]

Thanks for the advice

Which advice?

[PersonOfInterest]

Complaining about traffic when you live in a community that causes an influx of thousands of people per year seems a bit naive. I'm amazed that we don't have More traffic and congestion on the roads based on the exploding population of the Villages.

[Hardlyworking]

US 301 should have been 4 lane 2 years ago. Long before the extension of Marsh Bend Trail.

[VApeople]

traffic “ain’t goin’ no where”.

No problem. As usual, Bob Dylan has the answer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlMF3phP5-M

[G.R.I.T.S.]

It’s called not enough north-south road capacity in The Villages. Your only choices to go south of 44 are Morse and 301. Buena Vista dead ends at 44. At the rate houses are being built south of 44 the traffic isn’t going to get any better. Current plans are for more than 50,000 more houses in the ‘south end’ by 2028.

Traffic such as you’re experiencing is one of the reasons we moved here from ‘up north’.One suggestion might be to figure out how to minimize or eliminate trips from south of 44 to other locations in the northern end of The Villages. Find all the things you need further south—or take the Toll Road or I-75 and shop or eat in Ocala.

Agreed! Keep the traffic south of 44! 😝

[jimkerr]

What's going on with the traffic on Hwy 301. It was backed up from the toll road to the stoplight at hwy 44. Then packed along the way to Windward Passage. When we bought in January the traffic on hwy 301 wasn't half as bad. TV need to do something to resolve this before it gets impossible to travel 301with all the new housed being built. It's July and when all the snowbirds return, walking may be faster. Does anyone know if this traffic problem is being addressed by TV, county or state??

1. The Villages has nothing to do with traffic on 301. Why are you so quick to put the blame where it doesn’t belong?

2. Use Waze and this wouldn’t have been an issue for you.

[golfing eagles]

US 301 should have been 4 lane 2 years ago. Long before the extension of Marsh Bend Trail.

Yes, and I-95 and I-75 should have been built with 4 lanes in each direction their entire length. Interestingly, there's a highway built about 15 years ago from Shanghai to Hangzhou , 6 lanes in each direction. In 2009, there was hardly anyone on it. I wonder about now, and 20 years from now. Wish our planners had that type of foresight, because it is a lot cheaper to "overbuild" a bit than to add on later.

[Altavia]

Study discussing 301 from the Turnpike south.

https://www.cflroads.com/project-files/87/2019_05_16_430132-1_PDE%20Final%20Sociocultural%20Effects%20Evaluati on.pdf

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

It’s called not enough north-south road capacity in The Villages. Your only choices to go south of 44 are Morse and 301. Buena Vista dead ends at 44. At the rate houses are being built south of 44 the traffic isn’t going to get any better. Current plans are for more than 50,000 more houses in the ‘south end’ by 2028.

Traffic such as you’re experiencing is one of the reasons we moved here from ‘up north’.One suggestion might be to figure out how to minimize or eliminate trips from south of 44 to other locations in the northern end of The Villages. Find all the things you need further south—or take the Toll Road or I-75 and shop or eat in Ocala.

Buena Vista is being extended to intersect with Meggison which may help. But for now, you can take a right at 44 off of Buena Vista and take Meggison.

Meggison will eventually go down to Rte 470, (Central Blvd) but for now, you can take a right on Warm Springs, a left on Marsh Bend Trail to go all the way to 470.

Another traffic problem on 301 is due to the dirt racing track. When there is a big competition it is backed up in both directions for miles. These are usually on Saturdays so I avoid 301 on Saturdays.

Both 301 and Marsh Bend Trail are being widened to four lanes. It will probably be quite a while before that happens. If you live in the southern area, you'l eventually find ways to get around while avoiding traffic.

One of the routes I'll often take when I have to or want to go up north is to take Meggison up to 44, turn left and then turn right on Powell. Powell eventually intersects with 301 avoiding a lot of the high traffic areas.

[kendi]

We live in The Villages so we don't need to drive on the roads out in the "real world" like U.S. 301, U.S. 441, and U.S. 27.

We only need to venture where Buena Vista and Morse can take us.

Tiny world. Boring.

[justjim]

Holiday traffic always backs up where the Turnpike and I 75 merge at Wildwood. This problem makes 301 a problem. There is no simple solution- too many vehicles and not enough traffic lanes to accommodate them.

[Hardlyworking]

Ordinarily that is true. Yesterday they had the northbound lane closed down for some undetermined reason just south of the turnpike.

[vintageogauge]

It’s called not enough north-south road capacity in The Villages. Your only choices to go south of 44 are Morse and 301. Buena Vista dead ends at 44. At the rate houses are being built south of 44 the traffic isn’t going to get any better. Current plans are for more than 50,000 more houses in the ‘south end’ by 2028.

Traffic such as you’re experiencing is one of the reasons we moved here from ‘up north’.One suggestion might be to figure out how to minimize or eliminate trips from south of 44 to other locations in the northern end of The Villages. Find all the things you need further south—or take the Toll Road or I-75 and shop or eat in Ocala.

Buena Vista is being extended across 44 as we speak onto Meggison , also 501 goes south to 470. and 301 is going to be re-routed just south of Warm Springs.

[Taltarzac725]

The Villages Road Conditions with Driving and Traffic Flow - LocalConditions.com (https://www.localconditions.com/weather-the-villages-florida/32162/traffic.php)

These kind of web-sites are helpful. As long as your passenger or backseat drivers do the website browsing.

[justjim]

Doubt it would help most. The true believers in anything----greedy developers, climate change, flat earth, etc are so committed to their ignorant, uninformed opinions that they would simply state they were being lied to at the meeting.

Yes, stubborn old folks on both sides of the “spectrum”. “The difference between an educated person and a wise person is that a wise person has the ability to change their mind.” I just made that up.

[thelegges]

We could have built our next water view lot dream home in DeLuna, but turned it down. Didn’t want to deal with 301. But that is just our wants and needs.

[Michael G.]

No problem. As usual, Bob Dylan has the answer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlMF3phP5-M

Awesome song.
Haven't heard it in ages.

Written by Bob Dylan, sang by The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

[Lottoguy]

Living north of 466 looks better and better every day!

[VApeople]

We could have built our next water view lot dream home in DeLuna, but turned it down. Didn’t want to deal with 301.

I think that was a very wise decision.

Wait until they start selling houses south of Monarch Grove. Those houses will be near to Sawgrass Grove and Eastport and it will be an easy drive to Magnolia Plaza.

[Babubhat]

Trucks that are overweight use 301 to avoid I 75 weigh stations. Delivery truck told me

[Pairadocs]

Doubt it would help most. The true believers in anything----greedy developers, climate change, flat earth, etc are so committed to their ignorant, uninformed opinions that they would simply state they were being lied to at the meeting.

So true, it's human nature ! People "dig in", also, it's very difficult for some people to accept they've been duped, fooled, or, just made a mistake. The recent Covid pandemic for instance, just look at the actions of various groups of people. The number of people who have no idea of even the most basic golf course respect (like knowing WHERE to enter and leave a sand tarp, to take a golf cart around and BEHIND the green so as not to further delay the next group while you exit the green IN FRONT and hold up play, it goes on and on. Unless they make an introduction to the villages a mandatory thing (like muster on a cruise...LOL !), it will never improve. If made mandatory (would never happen of course) it would help "some", but human nature being what it is, never going to reach perfection.