INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A long-discussed Interstate 95 interchange is coming to Oslo Road, and the Florida Department of Transportation is holding town hall meetings this week to discuss the project with residents.

FDOT hosted a virtual presentation and Q&A on Monday to update residents and others on the $85.4 million project, which is slated to begin next summer. The state plans to hire a contractor in March and have it completed by December 2026, according to FDOT.

“The primary need for the I-95 and Oslo Road interchange is to provide regional connectivity to the people of southern Indian River County,” said Ross Shillingford, consultant project manager.

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FDOT will hold a second in-person discussion at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Indian River State College Richardson Center, Mueller Campus, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach.

The project also includes widening Oslo Road from two lanes to four lanes beginning west of I-95 – midway between 90th Avenue and southwest 86th Avenue – through 58th southwest avenue.

The Oslo Road Bridge will be replaced and sidewalks, lights and stormwater drainage systems will be installed, according to FDOT’s plan.

At Monday’s meeting, a handful of residents asked questions and expressed concerns, particularly about whether the volume of traffic on Oslo Road warranted such improvements in the first place.

“The proposed interchange would also provide an additional emergency escape route and support economic development in southern Indian River County,” Shillingford said in response.

Throughout the planned three-year construction, one lane of Oslo Road will remain open in each direction and access will be provided for businesses and private properties, according to FDOT.

Prior to Wednesday’s meeting, questions and comments can be submitted to Project Manager Anson Sonnett at [email protected]

Thomas Weber is TCPalm’s Indian River County government watchdog reporter. You can reach him at [email protected] or 813-545-9113. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.