Major changes are coming to a section of I-75 in Charlotte County.
A bottleneck in Punta Gorda which creates traffic slowdowns will be gone by the end of next year as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) moves forward with plans to widen a section of I-75.
The widening project will turn a four-mile stretch of the interstate into 6 lanes, currently there are four lanes of traffic.
The project will focus on a stretch of the interstate that begins just south of N. Jones Loop Rd and expands to a section north of U.S. 17. The project is estimated to cost $50 million.
FDOT is holding a public information meeting Thursday to offer more details on the project, as well as answer questions from the public.
The meeting will be held at Florida Southwestern State College from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Auditorium Lobby at 26300 Airport Rd. Punta Gorda.
Construction is slated to begin at the end of November, and is expected to wrap up at the end of 2018.
