2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way
Viera FL 32940
www.brevardfl.gov
Office: (321) 633-2000
Fax:
Viera FL 32940
www.brevardfl.gov
Office: (321) 633-2000
Fax:
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 14, 2025 10:48 AM
Ellis Road: Brevard County’s Top Transportation Priority Moves Forward
MELBOURNE, FL – The long-awaited Brevard County Ellis Road widening project is a step closer to construction, and work could begin as early as spring 2026, thanks to a collaborative partnership to close the funding gap for the much-needed $62 million project.
The widening of Ellis Road has been in development for over two decades and has been the No. 1 transportation priority for Brevard County and the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) for the past decade. Ellis Road is a vital connection between Interstate 95, economic generators, and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and an important gateway for the 20,000 employees who work in the vicinity. The planned project would widen Ellis Road to four lanes, and add a median, from John Rodes Boulevard to west of Wickham Road.
With rising construction costs and limited availability for grant funding, the widening project faced a $25 million funding gap during the 2024-2025 transportation planning process. Brevard County, the SCTPO, the Florida Department of Transportation District (FDOT) Five, and the cities of Melbourne and West Melbourne formed a collaborative partnership with each contributing toward the remaining funding needed.
Through that effort, the Ellis Road project in now included in FDOT District Five’s Tentative Five-Year Work Program for fiscal years 2025/2026 through 2029/2030. The Tentative Work Program will be considered by the Florida Legislature during the spring 2025 budget process.
FDOT has been working to acquire the needed right of way for approximately two years and expected to complete that process by the end of January 2025. The current timeline calls for the clearing and grubbing contract to follow. This initial work is expected to take place in summer and fall 2025, after which there would be a nine-month window for utility relocation.
With approval of the Tentative Work Program, construction is expected to start in spring 2026. For more information and updates visit the Brevard County Ellis Road Widening Project website.
The widening of Ellis Road has been in development for over two decades and has been the No. 1 transportation priority for Brevard County and the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization (SCTPO) for the past decade. Ellis Road is a vital connection between Interstate 95, economic generators, and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and an important gateway for the 20,000 employees who work in the vicinity. The planned project would widen Ellis Road to four lanes, and add a median, from John Rodes Boulevard to west of Wickham Road.
With rising construction costs and limited availability for grant funding, the widening project faced a $25 million funding gap during the 2024-2025 transportation planning process. Brevard County, the SCTPO, the Florida Department of Transportation District (FDOT) Five, and the cities of Melbourne and West Melbourne formed a collaborative partnership with each contributing toward the remaining funding needed.
Through that effort, the Ellis Road project in now included in FDOT District Five’s Tentative Five-Year Work Program for fiscal years 2025/2026 through 2029/2030. The Tentative Work Program will be considered by the Florida Legislature during the spring 2025 budget process.
FDOT has been working to acquire the needed right of way for approximately two years and expected to complete that process by the end of January 2025. The current timeline calls for the clearing and grubbing contract to follow. This initial work is expected to take place in summer and fall 2025, after which there would be a nine-month window for utility relocation.
With approval of the Tentative Work Program, construction is expected to start in spring 2026. For more information and updates visit the Brevard County Ellis Road Widening Project website.