ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis joined state and local officials Tuesday in Volusia County to break ground on the reconstruction of the Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 interchange.
The project is one of 20 initiatives selected statewide as part of Florida’s Moving Florida Forward infrastructure initiative, a program DeSantis said leverages the state’s budget surplus to accelerate critical transportation improvements years ahead of schedule.
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“I’m pleased to be here today in Volusia County to share an exciting update about the reconstruction of the interchange here at Interstate 95 and U.S. 1,” DeSantis said. “This is one of the initial 20 projects selected statewide to be part of our Moving Florida Forward infrastructure initiative, and this is one of the ones we wanted to advance rapidly ahead of schedule.”
The interchange project had already been moved up from the 2030s to 2027 before receiving an additional one-year advancement. DeSantis announced the project is now officially breaking ground in 2026 - today.
Central to the project’s acceleration is a new construction delivery method developed exclusively by the Florida Department of Transportation. Called “modified phase design-build,” the approach was first used on a recent I-4 congestion relief project and is now being applied to the I-95/US-1 interchange.
DeSantis said the method is projected to save more than $70 million in costs — savings he said will be redirected toward additional transportation improvements across the state.
FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue credited the governor’s leadership and the legislature’s support for making the project possible.
Perdue said the new delivery method was a deliberate push to find smarter, faster ways to build.
DeSantis also used the occasion to highlight Florida’s broader infrastructure and fiscal record, drawing a sharp contrast with other states.
“Florida — we have 23 and a half million people. The state of New York has 19 and a half million people. Their budget is over twice as large as our state budget,” DeSantis said. “And yet, who has better infrastructure and better roads — New York or Florida? It’s not even close.”
The governor pointed to other recent wins, including congestion relief lanes on I-4 between U.S. 27 in Polk County and World Drive in Osceola County, completed eight months ahead of schedule.