Florida

DeSantis lifts some tolls, including Alligator Alley, as Hurricane Ian approaches

Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends some tolls on highways on the West Coast and Florida’s Panhandle as Hurricane Ian approached the state Monday, Sept. 26, 2022.
Gov. Ron DeSantis suspends some tolls on highways on the West Coast and Florida’s Panhandle as Hurricane Ian approached the state Monday, Sept. 26, 2022. Miami Herald file photo

Florida drivers will not have to pay nearly two dozen tolls across the state as Hurricane Ian churns toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he suspended tolls for Tampa Bay and warned Floridians to prepare for major storm surge and flooding.

“This is a really, really big hurricane at this point,” he said. “The storm surge is likely to be significant given how big the storm is.”

DeSantis encouraged Floridians to “remain calm” and not “panic buy” gasoline and other supplies.

“There’s no need to panic buy,” DeSantis said. “If you don’t normally drink a lot of water, you may not need to go out and buy 20 gallons of water right now.

“Just do what you need to be prepared.”

To help clear roadways, DeSantis said he was suspending tolls in the Tampa Bay area, Polk County, parts of the Panhandle and Alligator Alley. On Tuesday, DeSantis instructed officials to suspend tolls on additional facilities including those in central Florida.

Here’s a list of toll roads that are free of charge until further notice:

Broward and Collier

  • Alligator Alley

Citrus, Hernando and Pasco

  • Suncoast Parkway

Hillsborough

  • 1-4 Connector
  • Selmon Expressway
  • Veterans Expressway

Central Florida

  • Apopka Expressway
  • Beachline Expressway
  • Central Florida GreeneWay
  • East-West Expressway
  • Florida’s Turnpike Mainline
  • Goldenrod Road Extension
  • 1-4 Express
  • Osceola Parkway
  • Poinciana Parkway
  • Seminole Expressway
  • Southern Connector Extension
  • SR 453
  • Wekiva Parkway
  • Western Beltway

Pinellas

  • Pinellas Bayway
  • Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Polk

  • Polk Parkway

Miami Herald Staff Writer Omar Rodriguez Ortiz contributed to this report.

This story was originally published September 26, 2022 at 1:23 PM.

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