The purpose of the project is to increase capacity and improve safety and operations along U.S. 17 (State Road 9S.R.) 15) from Lake Winona Road to S.R. 40. The project proposes to widen this segment of U.S. 17 from two to four lanes. In addition, drainage improvements and the addition of a shared-use path (along the right side of the roadway) will be included as part of this project.

This project is a portion of the overall project approved in the 2006 PD&E study to widen U.S. 17 to north of S.R. 40 (FPID No. 410251-1). To implement the design and construction more easily, the project has been divided into three segments. This project, from the Duke Energy Substation south of S.R. 40 to north of S.R. 40, is segment 2.  Segment 3 will widen the roadway from south of Winona Road to the Duke Energy Substation and includes a new bridge over Deep Creek, as well as a wildlife crossing culvert. These wildlife crossings are approximately one-quarter mile south of the entrance to the Hear Island Conservation Area.

Segment 1 is from south of Spring Street to Lake Winona Road.