To the Editor:
We moved to south Ocala approximately 18 years ago. Where we live used to be the outskirts, no traffic or congestion. Now it is a total nightmare to try to go anywhere in a northern or western direction. We cannot believe the traffic, mainly because the roads do not keep up with the influx of businesses and residents.
When are the city planners going to wake up? Now they are redoing the interchange of 75 and 484, which we live very close to. The drivers block the intersections because they are tired of waiting in line, and it causes a jam up that lasts for hours and miles.
Instead of widening 484 under 75, what should have happened is an overpass of 484 over 75 so through traffic does not have to deal with the lights, people could drive over the intersections, and there would be minimal back up. What they are going to do (widen the underpass) will not alleviate the traffic jams. There are too many lights for that and too many people having to go through these intersections that just want to go straight and not get on 75.
We do not go to the businesses in Ocala anymore unless it is absolutely necessary, and then try to plan it in off hours, which is a joke trying to guess when that is now. We go to The Villages for shopping and dining, etc. With all these “super sized” warehouses being built, and so many new housing developments coming in, the traffic is only going to get worse. Ocala planners do not seem to have vision to see this and the problems it is causing.
We plan on moving away within a couple years. Ocala is not the same as before. Sometimes progress goes too fast and ruins the “climate” of an area.
Lil Lang
Ocala resident