Skip to main content

Florida toll suspensions in force as Hurricane Milton hits

Move in place till 14 October designed to help ease evacuation from path of storm
By Adam Hill October 10, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
FDoT paused operations on active construction projects within the projected path of the storm (© Zenobillis | Dreamstime.com)

Toll suspensions are in force until noon on Monday 14 October across Central Florida and West Florida, as well as Alligator Alley and 595 Express, as Hurricane Milton impacts the US state.

Drivers were urged to avoid unnecessary travel and follow local guidance, and Florida Department of Transportation (FDoT) suspended operations on active construction projects within the projected path of the storm. 

Governor Ron DeSantis said at the beginning of this week: “With evacuation orders imminent, this will help keep traffic moving and be one less thing for people to worry about ahead of Milton.”

“Suspending tolls across the central and west part of the state and Alligator Alley offers an additional option for families to easily get out of the storm’s direct path,” said FDoT secretary Jared W. Perdue. 

Toll facilities for FDoT, Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), Central Florida Expressway Authority, and Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority are included within this - but authorities said the suspension "may be extended as needed depending on evolving conditions".

FDoT implemented Emergency Shoulder Use along Interstate 4 (I-4) and portions of Interstate 75 (I-75) to help facilitate the flow of traffic for travellers evacuating the storm’s potential impact area.

The south-eastern US was recently hit by Hurricane Helene, and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is providing $32m for Tennessee DoT and $100m for North Carolina DoT from the Quick Release Emergency Funding Program to repair critical infrastructure and help with relief efforts.

US Department of Transportation said it is "closely following developments related to Hurricane Milton".

Related Content

  • April 2, 2015
    IBTTA, ARBTA, ATFI comment on latest Grow America Act
    The International Bridge, Toll and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) has applauded the Grow America Act 2.0 just released by the US Administration and US DOT. It says that once again, the Administration has boldly called for lifting the ban on Interstate tolling for the purpose of reconstruction, giving states greater flexibility to meet their challenging infrastructure and surface transportation needs. The six-year, US$478 is said to be US$126 billion more than current investment levels and US$238 billion mo
  • August 8, 2023
    $7bn funding from FHWA for US infrastructure resilience
    Money will be available for highway and transit projects to mitigate climate change effects
  • July 24, 2012
    Florida's free flow tolling eases congestion, improves safety
    A decade since Florida's Turnpike Enterprise first deployed electronic toll collection, the organisation's Director of Toll Operations Rick Nelson and Tom S. Knuckey of PBS&J look at progress. A decade on from the deployment of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise's state-wide SunPass pre-paid Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme, transponder sales have ballooned from 5,000 to more than 4,000,000. Over 70 per cent of the state's turnpike drivers participate in the system and transponder sales continue to gro
  • September 2, 2019
    HDR to bolster Florida’s C/AV efforts
    Engineering firm HDR has been chosen by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDoT) to deploy and evaluate statewide investment in connected and autonomous vehicle (C/AV) technology. HDR will develop a business plan aimed at realising full-scale C/AV deployments. The company says it will also provide programme support, thought leadership and training for FDoT staff. Additionally, HDR is to serve as the prime construction engineering and inspection services consultant for Florida’s Turnpike Enter