UPDATE: As of 8:30 a.m., lanes are opening back up on I-75 and the Turnpike. Law enforcement authorities are still reporting heavy traffic throughout the area.
A stretch of northbound lanes of Interstate 75 and the Florida Turnpike are closed in Sumter County this morning, several intersections near the highway are experiencing congestion, and detours are in place as law enforcement authorities advise motorists to “expect significant delays” due to a crash and the ongoing investigation.
According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the northbound portion of I-75 was shut down at State Road 44 earlier this morning due to a crash. Additionally, northbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike will be shut down at U.S. Highway 301 (Wildwood). Traffic will be diverted northbound onto U.S. Highway 301.
At 2 a.m., SCSO reported that the CR 475/CR 466 bridge that goes over I-75 was shut down and would be closed for “an undetermined amount of time.”
Cameras maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation around mile marker 333 show multiple emergency responders at the scene.
As of 8 a.m., there are road closures and detours in place in Wildwood/Oxford due to the bridge closure, including northbound traffic on CR 475 at west CR 466. Northbound traffic on CR 475 will be diverted eastbound onto west CR 462. Westbound traffic heading to CR 475 on CR 466 will be diverted southbound on CR 229, according to SCSO.
This story is developing. Villages-News.com will provide updates as they become available from the responding agencies.