Governor Ron DeSantis Celebrates Completion of River Road Widening Project in Sarasota County

What this means

Florida announced completion of the $61 million River Road, or State Road 777, widening project in Sarasota County. The jointly funded state-and-county project expanded five miles between U.S. 41 and Interstate 75 from two lanes to six and added shared-use paths, upgraded lighting and signals, pedestrian islands, accessible ramps and two wildlife underpasses. Governor Ron DeSantis and state transportation officials said the project finished ahead of schedule and is intended to improve capacity, safety and evacuation access.

Official release

VENICE, Fla.— Today, Governor Ron DeSantis celebrated the completion of the $61 million River Road (State Road 777) widening project in Sarasota County. The project expands five miles of River Road from two lanes to six lanes between U.S. 41 and I-75, tripling roadway capacity and providing significant congestion relief for Southwest Florida residents, businesses, and visitors. The project was completed through a joint investment by the state and Sarasota County.

“Great to be in Sarasota County today to celebrate the completion of the SR-777 widening project ahead of schedule,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These improvements will go a long way toward meeting travel demand and relieving congestion in Sarasota County.”

"This project reflects FDOT’s commitment to delivering transportation improvements that make a meaningful difference for the people and communities we serve,” said FDOT Secretary Jared W. Perdue, P.E. “By looking at the entire corridor and finding opportunities to deliver more, we are building better connections and infrastructure designed to serve Southwest Florida for years to come."

River Road has been a longstanding regional transportation priority, supported through coordination among FDOT, Sarasota County, the Sarasota/Manatee MPO, and other regional partners. While the original project plans included the expansion of River Road to four lanes, FDOT sought opportunities to provide even more relief to the surrounding community by increasing roadway capacity to six total lanes along the entire five-mile corridor. This change showcases Florida’s continued focus to bring thoughtful, community-driven transportation needs throughout the state, especially on some of Florida’s most critical evacuation routes.

Beyond the additional roadway capacity, the project includes improvements throughout the corridor:

Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements: Two 10-foot-wide shared-use paths along both sides of River Road to provide safer access and better connections to surrounding neighborhoods and community destinations.

Safety Improvements: Upgraded lighting and signals, pedestrian islands, ADA-accessible ramps, and other improvements to enhance visibility, pedestrian access, and safety throughout the corridor.

Wildlife Crossings: Two dedicated wildlife underpasses to provide safer passage for native wildlife beneath the roadway while helping reduce potential conflicts with motorists.

For more information on FDOT District One infrastructure projects, please visit SWFLRoads.com.

Release text attributed to Florida Governor’s Office. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.