[jimhurtt@twc.com]

Hey. Can't blame it on us Snowbirds.

[kkingston57]

Do not know why but last few times on 75 traffic backed up and/or very heavy going north to Ocala.

Not certain but do believe that workers who work in this area come from that area or Leesburg(traffic heavy on 441during "rush hour). We live in the Spanish Springs area and take 441/27 when we go up there. For people in the south, probably not a good alternative.

Looks like 75 would be an ideal area for widening.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by TNLAKEPANDA

I-75 Traffic is horrible all the time

Sounds like the US needs some spending on infrastructure.

[dpmers]

Take 441 to Gainesville, pretty drive and little traffic

[IndianaJones]

I went to Gainesville (worked up there) nearly every day for 6 years. The last 2 years I truly believe (can't prove it, but I believe it) the traffic has gotten worse, especially southbound (on Fridays, in particular). Here's a quote from "nebraskaadvocates.com" - "According to the DOT, the accident rate on I-75 crossing through Alachua County is 90% higher than the statewide average for similar roads. Even worse, the number of vehicle wrecks jumped from 935 in 2011 to 1,538 in 2015 and is still increasing today." There are a few other articles that speak to the I-75 stretch between Gainesville and Wildwood. Wildwood is where the "split" occurs; north of there you're getting both Tampa and Orlando/Miami traffic until you get past Wildwood. I usually go up Sunday night/Monday morning so northbound isn't too bad, but southbound in the afternoon is always bad. I often take 441 or 301 - the accidents seem to start around SR200 northbound, and around Micanopy southbound. And, as people have stated, a lot of 90+mph cars flying by. Stay safe!

[New Englander]

Originally Posted by Jacob85

The reason there are so many accidents is because the people drive about 90 miles an hour. I call it the Indianapolis 500! It needs to be expanded also!

They want to do 90 in the slow lane.

[Babubhat]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

Sounds like the US needs some spending on infrastructure.

Good luck with that. You will sit in construction zones endlessly and expire of old age before it gets completed

[dp000]

Originally Posted by dadspet

Just made to trip to Ocala and the traffic to and from Ocala was Awful - bumper to bumper and average speed most of time under 30mph. If you planning a trip there I'd suggest leaving early or going up 301 (not sure if its any better since I was on I75). I wonder if it's the 4th of July visitors. I've never experienced it this bad. The weren't any obvious reason for the slow movement (no accident etc.). In Ocala Sam's some of the people we talked to said its becoming more of the norm.

As a side note the pavement on Rt 44 is becoming rough in spots. Especially Turning from Buena Vista to 44, but there are a few other areas.

Just came home last night (July 11) from Illinois and the traffic from north of Atlanta was the worse I have been in. From Gainesville to Wildwood it was stop and go. No accidents. Just heavy traffic.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Babubhat

Good luck with that. You will sit in construction zones endlessly and expire of old age before it gets completed

Would rather sit in construction zone.....than have a bridge collapse on my car.

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by dadspet

Just made to trip to Ocala and the traffic to and from Ocala was Awful - bumper to bumper and average speed most of time under 30mph. If you planning a trip there I'd suggest leaving early or going up 301 (not sure if its any better since I was on I75). I wonder if it's the 4th of July visitors. I've never experienced it this bad. The weren't any obvious reason for the slow movement (no accident etc.). In Ocala Sam's some of the people we talked to said its becoming more of the norm.

As a side note the pavement on Rt 44 is becoming rough in spots. Especially Turning from Buena Vista to 44, but there are a few other areas.

I-75 is a pretty busy race track, with a lot of folks that tend to weave across lanes trying to get ahead of the other fellow. 441/21/301 is a slower route up to Ocala from TV, but IMHO more enjoyable than the 'white knuckle drive' on I-75

I once read a traffic assessment that seemed to answer why the traffic piles up on the interstates and slows down when no accident is involved...not sure if it's completely accurate, but it sure made sense to me...it went something like this:

very few drivers actually travel at the speed limit...most are 10 + mph above the posted speeds, and some really 'bury the needle'...however, there are those that stay within the posted limit (and sometimes play 'speed cop' out in the left hand lane)

when those traveling at higher rates of speed approach multiple vehicles that are traveling at the posted speed limits, traffic begins to slow down and back up while the drivers that want to travel at a faster speed maneuver around the slower moving vehicles...once that begins to happen, there is a domino affect...as cars continue to come up to 'the pack' and more back up...further back drivers see the red tail lights and begin to slow down...and it just continues to mushroom....eventually the accordion factor sets in and we enter the stop, start, stop, go mode

now on the other hand, construction, trash in the roadway, a cop car to the side with lights flashing and an accident will also back the traffic up

add to it all that by the time infrastructure plans are actually funded and construction completed the new roads are often already insufficient to handle the volume of traffic that will be using the road

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by davem4616

I-75 is a pretty busy race track, with a lot of folks that tend to weave across lanes trying to get ahead of the other fellow. 441/21/301 is a slower route up to Ocala from TV, but IMHO more enjoyable than the 'white knuckle drive' on I-75

I once read a traffic assessment that seemed to answer why the traffic piles up on the interstates and slows down when no accident is involved...not sure if it's completely accurate, but it sure made sense to me...it went something like this:

very few drivers actually travel at the speed limit...most are 10 + mph above the posted speeds, and some really 'bury the needle'...however, there are those that stay within the posted limit (and sometimes play 'speed cop' out in the left hand lane)

when those traveling at higher rates of speed approach multiple vehicles that are traveling at the posted speed limits, traffic begins to slow down and back up while the drivers that want to travel at a faster speed maneuver around the slower moving vehicles...once that begins to happen, there is a domino affect...as cars continue to come up to 'the pack' and more back up...further back drivers see the red tail lights and begin to slow down...and it just continues to mushroom....eventually the accordion factor sets in and we enter the stop, start, stop, go mode

now on the other hand, construction, trash in the roadway, a cop car to the side with lights flashing and an accident will also back the traffic up

add to it all that by the time infrastructure plans are actually funded and construction completed the new roads are often already insufficient to handle the volume of traffic that will be using the road

Very good post and probably very true. One of the reasons I fantasize that a giant hook would come out of the sky and grab those "speed cops" out of the left lane and dump them on a backwoods two lane road.

[NotGolfer]

Had the car radio on as I did errands this morning. Station out of Orlando gave rode updates. This was around 9:00 so probably not usual work-rush. They were warning about the I-system as well as the Turnpike and other major highways. Warning was including to take 301 or 441 if you want to get where you're going. One of the "wait times" was 75 minutes. Could it be construction or just a lot of folks vacationing and/or the residents that live in Florida. We complain about traffic but it's not so bad within "the bubble"---it's when we leave we notice the difference.

[pauld315]

It is because of the tens of thousands of people escaping from the north and their dictatorial Governors and moving to Florida. Many of these people are settling in Central Florida because it is still affordable.

[l2ridehd]

I go to the Ocala airport weekly and have given up on using 75. I now go 466 west to 475 to SW 27th street. Takes at most 5 minutes longer if 75 is perfect. And usually less time if 75 has issues.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

There is that over use of the word greed again……….

I already took a shot!

What a way to start the day...