- April 30, 2026
all three at ground breaking Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and transportation engineer Maryam Ghyabi White take part in a ceremonial groundbreaking for the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange project at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach. Photo by Rich Carroll
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue speaks during a press conference at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach on the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange reconstruction project. Photo by Rich Carroll
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach ahead of a press conference announcing the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange reconstruction project. Photo by Rich Carroll
Maryam Ghyabi White, CEO of Ghyabi Consulting and Management, speaks during a press conference at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach highlighting the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange project. Photo by Rich Carroll
A concept rendering of the planned Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 interchange improvements in Volusia County. Image courtesy of the state of Florida
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd during a press conference at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach announcing the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange reconstruction project. Photo by Rich Carroll
A long awaited overhaul of one of Volusia County’s busiest traffic corridors is now moving forward years ahead of schedule.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis joined state and local leaders Thursday at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach to announce the accelerated timeline for the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange reconstruction project, part of the state’s Moving Florida Forward initiative.
Originally slated for construction sometime next decade, the project is now set to begin work in May, with completion expected in 2029.
“This was not even going to start until sometime next decade,” DeSantis said. “Now it is officially breaking ground in 2026.”
State officials say the project is one of 20 major transportation efforts funded through a multibillion dollar statewide investment aimed at reducing congestion and improving mobility. By accelerating funding, some projects including the Volusia County interchange have been moved up by more than a decade and in some cases close to two decades.
The interchange, originally built in the 1960s, is among the older components of Florida’s highway system. DeSantis said the reconstruction will modernize the corridor, adding capacity and improving traffic flow for drivers traveling through the region.
“You’re going to have more capacity, better traffic flow, less congestion,” he said.
Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said the project’s rapid timeline is the result of both funding and innovation in how projects are delivered.
“It’s amazing how fast we went from concept to construction under the governor’s leadership,” Perdue said.
Perdue said the state moved the project forward by more than 10 years and introduced a new construction approach designed to speed up delivery while reducing costs. The method allows overlapping phases of design and construction, cutting down on delays.
“This is efficient government at work,” Perdue said, adding that similar strategies are expected to be used on additional projects across the state.
Local transportation engineer Maryam Ghyabi White, CEO of Ghyabi Consulting and Management, said the project has been years in the making and is critical for the region’s continued growth.
“This project has been a long time coming,” Ghyabi White said.
She said the improvements will help address traffic concerns while supporting residents, businesses and visitors traveling through the area.
“The initiative reflects a focused effort to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and support the needs of growing communities,” she said.
Ghyabi White added that without the accelerated funding approach, the project likely would have remained years away from construction.
State leaders say the broader initiative represents a significant investment in Florida’s transportation system, targeting key bottlenecks across the state.
For Volusia County, officials say the I-95 and U.S. 1 interchange reconstruction project represents a major step toward improving one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors and preparing for continued population growth.
Construction is expected to bring long term relief for drivers while improving safety and efficiency along the I-95 corridor.
