DeLAND, Fla. – Florida Department of Transportation crews will lower the speed limit through a major construction zone on Interstate 4 through Volusia County after 47 crashes were reported in the area since May 1.
Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Montes said despite the construction, the speed limit has never dropped below 70 mph in the area that stretches from just east of State Route 44 to just before the junction with Interstate 95.
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The $134 million project will widen that stretch in interstate to six lanes when it's completed in the Fall of 2014, according to the FDOT website.
Right now, westbound and eastbound traffic is forced to merge into two narrow lanes in either direction with no shoulder to stop on. Montes said that's resulted in some bad accidents, including one day when FHP troopers responded to six accidents in one day blamed on rain slicked roads.
Despite holiday traffic and the Coke Zero 400 taking place at the nearby Daytona Speedway, the new 60 mph speed limit will not take effect until sometime next week, Montes said.