The new I-95 interchange at Oslo Road is open. Here is what changes for south Vero drivers.

If you live in south Vero or anywhere near Oslo Road, your drive just changed. A brand-new interchange connecting Oslo Road to Interstate 95 opened this week. Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary Jared Perdue celebrated the opening on Monday, October 5, 2026.

Until now, drivers in the southern part of Indian River County had to head north to State Road 60 or south to Indrio Road to get on I-95. Oslo Road now has its own on- and off-ramps. State officials call it the county's first new I-95 interchange in about 50 years.

What was built

The state and Indian River County jointly paid for the project. WQCS reported the total at $95.78 million; WPTV rounded it to $100 million. Here is what the work included:

• New on- and off-ramps between Oslo Road and I-95.
• A new Oslo Road bridge over I-95, replacing the old one.
• Oslo Road widened from two lanes to four, from west of I-95 to 58th Avenue, as a divided road.
• Sidewalks and bike lanes in both directions.
• Intersection lighting at 74th, 66th and 58th Avenues.
• A new traffic signal at 66th Avenue.
• ADA-accessible sidewalk ramps.
• Wrong-way vehicle detection on the interchange ramps, which is meant to catch a driver heading the wrong way onto the highway.

FDOT says the contractor finished early through its voluntary acceleration program, which rewards builders for completing work faster. Secretary Perdue put it at roughly 400 days early.

What it means for your commute

FDOT expects drivers who use Oslo Road to reach I-95 to see their drive times cut roughly in half. The state also expects less congestion at the two interchanges many south county residents have been using: State Road 60 and Indrio Road.

Oslo Road is also a designated truck route for southern Indian River County. The new interchange gives trucks a more direct path to the interstate, and FDOT says it improves access to the commercial and industrial area around Oslo Road and I-95. WPTV reported that traffic on the corridor is projected to keep growing through 2045, so expect Oslo to stay busy even with the extra lanes.

Why it matters in a hurricane

This is the part every homeowner should notice. FDOT says the interchange adds another evacuation route for the county. Until now, south county drivers heading for I-95 had to use SR 60 or Indrio Road. Now there is a third way on, closer to home for many neighborhoods.

The state also estimates that emergency response times for incidents on I-95 in the area could improve by up to 56%, because first responders can reach the highway faster.

What to do now

1. Update your hurricane evacuation plan. If you live south of SR 60, check whether Oslo Road is now your fastest way to I-95, and write it into the family plan before the next storm.
2. Make sure your map app knows. Navigation apps do not always show new ramps right away. If your app still routes you to SR 60 or Indrio, check for an app update or pick the Oslo ramp yourself.
3. Watch for the new 66th Avenue signal. A new light on a road you drive every day is easy to miss at first, so slow down there until it feels routine. Teen drivers in the house should hear this too.
4. Use the new sidewalks and bike lanes, carefully. They run both directions along the widened stretch. Remember that Oslo is a truck route, so wear bright clothing and use lights at dusk.
5. Watch what gets built nearby. If you live near the Oslo and I-95 area, keep an eye on county planning agendas at indianriver.gov. FDOT says the interchange improves access to the commercial and industrial area at Oslo and I-95, and public hearings are where neighbors get a say on new projects.

One more detail you might spot from the ramp: land FDOT bought in the southwest corner of the interchange was set aside as a gopher tortoise habitat. FDOT says it will be the only gopher tortoise relocation site of its kind in southeast Florida.