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Citrus County residents are concerned over proposed toll roads

Citrus County residents sit in the overflow room and hold up "NO BUILD" signs to show their opposition to the toll roads (WUFT/Reagan Knight).
Citrus County residents sit in the overflow room and hold up "NO BUILD" signs to show their opposition to the toll roads (WUFT/Reagan Knight).

Citrus County residents spoke out against proposed toll roads at the commission’s monthly board meeting on Tuesday.

The Florida Department of Transportation proposed building several toll roads in Citrus County that would run through the south corridor road and connect cities such as Inverness to Wildwood.

Citizens raised concern that these roads could force residents from their homes, lead to environmental issues and potentially slice revenue from local businesses.

Only one homeowner, longtime resident Art Jones, advocated the proposal.

Other residents, such as Dan Slingerland who has lived in the county for 21 years, own homes that lie on the path of the toll roads and fear the impact the roads may have on their lives.

The two-hour meeting ended without a vote from the board.

While commissioner Scott Carnahan immediately said he would not support the road, other commissioners stated they would need to ask more questions and see more options before deciding on the matter.

Despite toll roads still being under review, many cities and counties are meeting to discuss the impact these roads will have on their communities.

Reagan is a reporter for WUFT News who can be reached by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.