DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The state is targeting LPGA Boulevard for a major overhaul as the once rural road becomes the main access to some of Daytona Beach’s newest attractions.

What You Need To Know

  • Some residents say congestion is a problem on LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach

  • Florida Department of Transportation officials say the plan is to widen LPGA Boulevard between U.S. 92 and Williamson Boulevard

  • Plan also calls for a “signalized turbine interchange” at I-95

  • Officials say construction hasn’t been funded, so a timeline for the project's completion was not available

By 2050, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) estimates LPGA Boulevard will be crammed with 56,000 vehicles a day, west of I-95. On the east side, where the Tanger Outlets mall and Buc-ee’s are located, 78,000 vehicles are expected to use the road daily.

“I can’t complain because I’m a beneficiary of the growth,” said Cindy Ferrara, who opened a State Farm office off LPGA Boulevard a few years ago.

Ferrara, who has lived in Daytona Beach since she was in junior high school, says she won’t complain about the growth, but she hopes it can be properly managed.

Between 2015 and 2019, there have been 927 crashes on LPGA Boulevard. Rear-end crashes, the predominate type of crash on the roadway, are directly related to congestion, according to FDOT.

“Volusia County, the Daytona area is pretty high rated as far as auto insurance premiums,” said Ferrara.

FDOT officials say they are studying nearly six miles of LPGA Boulevard from U.S. 92 to Williamson Boulevard, with plans to add more lanes to handle congestion.

Roundabouts, restricted crossing U-turns and other measures are being considered, they said.

The biggest changes include replacing the two-lane Tomoka River Bridge with a six-lane bridge that would include a turn lane, median and dedicate pedestrian and bike lanes.

Then there’s the interchange with I-95. FDOT wants to build something called a “signalized turbine interchange,” which agency officials hope will spread out traffic and reduce the number of conflict points where I-95 ramps intersect with LPGA Boulevard.

“For me to even think about, it’s a lot,” said Ferrara. “It’s a lot to manage and process.”

Ferrara said that while improvements are needed, it will take some time for drivers to get used to this kind of dramatic change.

Right now, FDOT is conducting a project development and environment study for LPGA Boulevard.

Right of way acquisition is only partially funded, and construction on the project hasn’t been funded yet, so officials say there’s no timeline for when work on the project will begin.