Expansion of Highway 50

Congressman John Mica has said that the expansion of Highway 50 and bridge safety improvements through Bithlo are an “absolute must” and received a commitment from Florida Department of Transportation to move the Bithlo Bridge to top of the priority list and to start the expansion of Highway 50 to State Highway 520, including Bithlo bridge, from a long-term project to a project that will start immediately after phase one is complete. Currently, contractor selection and bidding processes are underway as this new and much needed project is moving forward.

Congressman Mica first learned of the bridge issues, and other problems in Bithlo, after touring the community with local leaders including Tim McKinney, executive director of United Global Outreach, a Bithlo-based non-profit focused on improving the area.

Following that meeting, Mica met with Florida DOT Secretary Ananth Prasad in Washington. Through discussions, Mica asked Prasad to move the widening to the top of their priority list and requested they move resources from any stalled state transportation projects to extend the vital east-west highway widening, not ending the six lane road and have traffic funneling into a narrow and unsafe bridge. Mica secured assurances of assistance on the project by Prasad. Today's meeting with District Secretary Noranne Downs culminated the discussion and Downs again assured this is a priority for the state and promised the report on how to complete the project quickly.

After the meeting with Downs, Mica walked a portion of the bridge with residents and experienced the very real danger facing residents of east Orange County as they cross the only pedestrian access from the east into Orange County.

"I'm a grown man and I felt terror as I started walking across the bridge," Mica said. " There are only 12 inches of space between the traffic and the barrier. People's lives are in danger and we must develop an immediate solution to this death trap."