LADY LAKE, Fla. — After four years of construction on U.S. 441, people in one Lake County community can hopefully rejoice soon.

What You Need To Know

  • FDOT hopes to wrap up road work on U.S. 441 in Lady Lake by this summer

  • Four years of construction has caused frustration for drivers and business owners

  • By end of May, all six lanes of U.S. 441 should be open to traffic

  • 29,500 vehicles travel through U.S. 441 every day

The Florida Department of Transportation is wrapping up road work to widen U.S. 441 from four to six lanes from Lake Ella Road to Avenida Central in Lady Lake.

Much to the frustration of drivers and business owners, the $45-million project has been going on since July 2020.

“One day I came in and they had huge mounds of dirt out front where you couldn’t even see the building. That was a challenge for customers to get in,” said Karen King, owner of A Quilting Palette.

King said the road work hurt business, but FDOT says the project was needed.

Crews widened four miles of U.S. 441 to help with congestion and the 29,500 vehicles that travel through this stretch of highway every day.

“We’re confident these substantial improvements will boost the local and regional economy by offering stronger connectivity, reduce traffic congestion, and improve safety and accessibility throughout the corridor for all,” said FDOT spokesperson Elizabeth Gifford.

On top of widening, FDOT also took out two bridges over County Road 25, creating an at-grade intersection.

“With the finishing of the road construction, it’s going to be a huge help,” said King. “We won’t have all the barrels to contend with, the lack with the turn lane. We’re looking very much forward to it, as well as the customers.”

FDOT says by the end of this month, all six travel lanes are expected to be open.

But more work will be on-going before the project officially wraps up this summer.

Crews are replacing concrete curb, gutters, driveways, and sidewalks in certain sections.

The installation of pedestrian signals is ongoing, and final paving, signage, striping and sodding are still required.