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Brevard County To Get New $110 Million Expressway

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Construction could begin as soon as early next year on new $110 million dollar expressway in Brevard County. The 30 mile long expressway, which will not have tolls, will run from Micco Road in Palm Bay and then curve up along Interstate 95 to Ellis Road in Melbourne.

Engineers say the new expressway will cut the trip from Palm Bay to Melbourne, which takes about 45 minutes during rush hour, to about 20 minutes.

"It would just help ease the traffic and help things be a little safer on the road," said driver Amy Limonta.

Brevard County, The City of Palm Bay, private investors, along with the Federal Government would pay for the project.

In addition to building the expressway, the Florida Department of Transportation is planning to spend $40 million to build two interchanges along Interstate 95 at Ellis and Micco Roads so drivers on the interstate can access the expressway.

"The transportation needs in Brevard County are pretty severe in the terms of long term plans that we have. The congestion rates on the north-south corridors are pretty severe," said John Denninghoff with Brevard County Public Works.

But some people think the money could be spent better somewhere else like making Interstate 95 safer. Right now there are no guardrails on Interstate 95 because FDOT claims there's no money.