The completed South Gateway on the SW 42nd Street flyover over I-75; this is not the North Gateway, which is still under construction at NW 49th Street and will follow a similar design. Photo: Marion County / Kimley-Horn, from the Sept. 24, 2026 I-75 Gateways presentation to the Tourist Development Council.
Government
2026-10-125 min readLast of Marion County's I-75 "OCALA" Gateways Is Due in Spring 2029 at the New NW 49th Street Interchange
This is a government news article published on 2026-10-12 covering local Marion County, Florida news. The North Gateway, an "OCALA" bridge feature with decorative towers on the new I-75 interchange at NW 49th Street, is under construction with a spring 2029 completion date. It is the third and final piece of a tourist-tax-funded gateway program that already includes the county line pillars and the SW 42nd Street flyover.
Updated Yesterday
By Only In Ocala Staff
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The last piece of Marion County's Interstate 75 gateway program is now being built into the new interchange at NW 49th Street north of Ocala, and it is scheduled to be finished in spring 2029. That date comes from a gateway update that the county's engineering consultant, Kimley-Horn, prepared for the Sept. 24, 2026 meeting of the Marion County Tourist Development Council, according to the presentation posted with the meeting agenda.
The presentation lists three parts to the program:
The same slide deck says landscaping improvements at the 49th Street interchange will follow construction as a separate project.
The concept drawings in the Sept. 24 presentation show the same design family as the South Gateway: the word "OCALA" across the face of the bridge over I-75, a band of silhouetted trees and horses along the top, and a tall stone-colored tower at each end. The state's project sheet included in the presentation describes it as a "Community Aesthetic Feature" to be installed on the NW 49th Street bridge over I-75 through a funding agreement with Marion County. The Florida Department of Transportation's project page says the county-funded bridge feature will display the word "Ocala" with special lighting.
The agreement attached to the county's agenda item spells out the scope. Under Exhibit A of the FDOT Locally Funded Agreement, the features include sign structures attached to the I-75 overpass bridge, landscaping features and decorative towers within the area of the interchange. Marion County supplied the design plans, and the state's contractor builds the features as part of the interchange contract. Once construction is done, the county is responsible for maintaining them "in perpetuity," the agreement says.
The North Gateway was never a stand-alone job. When the funding agreement went on the county commission's July 2, 2024 agenda, the Tourist Development staff summary said the North Gateway "is planned to be constructed concurrently" with the new I-75 interchange at NW 49th Street, according to the county's July 2, 2024 meeting record. Its schedule therefore follows the interchange.
FDOT's project page describes that interchange (financial project number 435209-1, the future Buc-ee's exit) as a diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and NW 49th Street, meant to handle future traffic growth and relieve the surrounding interchanges, with pedestrian, bicycle and lighting features. The page lists Lane Construction as the contractor, a cost of $59.4 million, a construction start in spring 2026 and an estimated completion in fall 2028. It also says the interchange will provide access to a Buc-ee's planned for the area. The county's presentation puts the gateway's own finish date a season later, in spring 2029.
The gateway program is paid for with tourist development tax money, which visitors pay on lodging stays of six months or less, according to the Visitors and Convention Bureau. On Jan. 19, 2021, the county commission voted 5-0 to approve a resolution (21-R-075) supporting the gateway signage project and backing the use of tourist development tax funds for it, on the finding that the project serves unmet tourism needs on the I-75 corridor, according to the meeting's action summary.
The north feature then came back to the commission in these agenda items, according to the same records:
The cost estimate attached to the agreement includes a 10 percent contingency of $323,261 within that $3,555,863 total.
The program dates to Sept. 18, 2018, when the county commission approved the gateway design concept, according to the county's 2021 and 2023 staff summaries. The Ocala City Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement on Jan. 5, 2021, according to the county staff summary, and the county commission approved it in the same 5-0 vote on Jan. 19, 2021, making the county the permit applicant and the maintenance entity for the feature on the SW 42nd Street flyover.
The county line pillars came first. The commission's March 7, 2023 agenda carried a $174,000 bid award to Kenco Sign and Awning of Holly Hill for the north and south county line signage. Its Nov. 7, 2023 agenda carried a $4,638,864 bid exemption contract with Commercial Industrial Corp. of Ocala to build the South Gateway, with up to 10 percent contingency allowed, after two rounds of bids drew no submittals. The Visitors and Convention Bureau says Kenco built the two county line markers and that Commercial Industrial Corporation was contracted to build the South Gateway.
The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau's press release on the South Gateway says the 42nd Street feature welcomes northbound I-75 traffic into Marion County and that Kimley-Horn handled concepts, design, permitting and FDOT applications. The commission's May 19, 2026 agenda included a bid exemption for South Gateway sign maintenance and service with Oasis Landscape Services of Gainesville, at an estimated $110,409.09.
FDOT's project page listed no lane closures for the NW 49th Street interchange as of Oct. 12, 2026. The state posts I-75 lane closure notices for Marion County at cflroads.com.
The land on the west side of the same interchange is the subject of a separate development request; see 535 homes, a hotel and retail proposed at the new I-75 exit. The gateway's horse silhouettes are a nod to the county's identity as the Horse Capital of the World; for what visitors come for once they exit, see things to do in Ocala.
The presentation lists three parts to the program:
- County line pillars near the north and south county lines on I-75, completed in fall 2023.
- The South Gateway, the "OCALA" feature on the SW 42nd Street flyover bridge, completed in summer 2025.
- The North Gateway, a new feature on the I-75 interchange at NW 49th Street, under construction with completion expected in spring 2029.
The same slide deck says landscaping improvements at the 49th Street interchange will follow construction as a separate project.
What the North Gateway will look like
The concept drawings in the Sept. 24 presentation show the same design family as the South Gateway: the word "OCALA" across the face of the bridge over I-75, a band of silhouetted trees and horses along the top, and a tall stone-colored tower at each end. The state's project sheet included in the presentation describes it as a "Community Aesthetic Feature" to be installed on the NW 49th Street bridge over I-75 through a funding agreement with Marion County. The Florida Department of Transportation's project page says the county-funded bridge feature will display the word "Ocala" with special lighting.
The agreement attached to the county's agenda item spells out the scope. Under Exhibit A of the FDOT Locally Funded Agreement, the features include sign structures attached to the I-75 overpass bridge, landscaping features and decorative towers within the area of the interchange. Marion County supplied the design plans, and the state's contractor builds the features as part of the interchange contract. Once construction is done, the county is responsible for maintaining them "in perpetuity," the agreement says.
Why it will not be finished until 2029
The North Gateway was never a stand-alone job. When the funding agreement went on the county commission's July 2, 2024 agenda, the Tourist Development staff summary said the North Gateway "is planned to be constructed concurrently" with the new I-75 interchange at NW 49th Street, according to the county's July 2, 2024 meeting record. Its schedule therefore follows the interchange.
FDOT's project page describes that interchange (financial project number 435209-1, the future Buc-ee's exit) as a diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and NW 49th Street, meant to handle future traffic growth and relieve the surrounding interchanges, with pedestrian, bicycle and lighting features. The page lists Lane Construction as the contractor, a cost of $59.4 million, a construction start in spring 2026 and an estimated completion in fall 2028. It also says the interchange will provide access to a Buc-ee's planned for the area. The county's presentation puts the gateway's own finish date a season later, in spring 2029.
Who pays and how it reached this point
The gateway program is paid for with tourist development tax money, which visitors pay on lodging stays of six months or less, according to the Visitors and Convention Bureau. On Jan. 19, 2021, the county commission voted 5-0 to approve a resolution (21-R-075) supporting the gateway signage project and backing the use of tourist development tax funds for it, on the finding that the project serves unmet tourism needs on the I-75 corridor, according to the meeting's action summary.
The north feature then came back to the commission in these agenda items, according to the same records:
- July 18, 2023: a request to approve a $112,770 task order to Kimley-Horn for final design and permit review coordination for the North Gateway.
- Dec. 19, 2023: a request to approve a task order of up to $78,201 to Kimley-Horn for the North Gateway's lighting, landscaping and electrical design.
- July 2, 2024: the FDOT Locally Funded Agreement, a three-party escrow agreement and a funding resolution, under which the county would provide $3,555,863 from the Tourist Development Fund for the aesthetic upgrades at the I-75 and NW 49th Street interchange. The county's posted record for that meeting, whose minutes are still marked as a draft, notes the item was taken up with the board's budget amendment motion. The agreement makes the county responsible for any shortfall if the bid comes in higher.
The cost estimate attached to the agreement includes a 10 percent contingency of $323,261 within that $3,555,863 total.
The earlier phases
The program dates to Sept. 18, 2018, when the county commission approved the gateway design concept, according to the county's 2021 and 2023 staff summaries. The Ocala City Council unanimously approved an interlocal agreement on Jan. 5, 2021, according to the county staff summary, and the county commission approved it in the same 5-0 vote on Jan. 19, 2021, making the county the permit applicant and the maintenance entity for the feature on the SW 42nd Street flyover.
The county line pillars came first. The commission's March 7, 2023 agenda carried a $174,000 bid award to Kenco Sign and Awning of Holly Hill for the north and south county line signage. Its Nov. 7, 2023 agenda carried a $4,638,864 bid exemption contract with Commercial Industrial Corp. of Ocala to build the South Gateway, with up to 10 percent contingency allowed, after two rounds of bids drew no submittals. The Visitors and Convention Bureau says Kenco built the two county line markers and that Commercial Industrial Corporation was contracted to build the South Gateway.
The Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau's press release on the South Gateway says the 42nd Street feature welcomes northbound I-75 traffic into Marion County and that Kimley-Horn handled concepts, design, permitting and FDOT applications. The commission's May 19, 2026 agenda included a bid exemption for South Gateway sign maintenance and service with Oasis Landscape Services of Gainesville, at an estimated $110,409.09.
What drivers will notice
FDOT's project page listed no lane closures for the NW 49th Street interchange as of Oct. 12, 2026. The state posts I-75 lane closure notices for Marion County at cflroads.com.
The land on the west side of the same interchange is the subject of a separate development request; see 535 homes, a hotel and retail proposed at the new I-75 exit. The gateway's horse silhouettes are a nod to the county's identity as the Horse Capital of the World; for what visitors come for once they exit, see things to do in Ocala.
Sources: Kimley-Horn "I-75 Gateways" presentation to the Marion County Tourist Development Council, Sept. 24, 2026 (agenda item 2026-24384); Marion County Board of County Commissioners agenda items 2021-1764 and 2021-1770 (Jan. 19, 2021) and that meeting's action summary, 2023-10068 (March 7, 2023), 2023-11666 (July 18, 2023), 2023-11903 (Nov. 7, 2023), 2023-13447 (Dec. 19, 2023), 2024-15651 (July 2, 2024) with the FDOT Locally Funded Agreement, Exhibit A and cost estimate, and 2026-22866 (May 19, 2026); FDOT project page for I-75 at NW 49th Street, FPID 435209-1 (cflroads.com); Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau press release on the I-75 gateway installation. Checked Oct. 12, 2026.
I-75
Gateway
NW 49th Street
Interchange
FDOT
Tourist Development Tax
Tourist Development Council
Marion County Commission
Buc-ee's
Ocala
Marion County
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