Project News

Marion's sleeping wonder
Our Opinion

Published April 05. 2004

When you really think about it, East State Road 40 is where Ocala and Marion County put their best collective foot forward. Before pine beetles ravaged much of the area a few years ago, it was even more appealing, with stretches of lush, marsh-draped tree canopies. It was and continues to be another world, separate and distinctively different, because just east of Silver Springs is where the Ocala National Forest begins its transition to Ocala's urban fringes.

Last week there was encouraging news about SR 40. There seems to be some general agreement this highway will someday have four lanes between Ocala and Ormond Beach. More importantly, there appears to be a meeting of the minds on human life and wildlife — both are important, SR 40 has natural aesthetic values worth preserving and enhancing, and years of discussions have borne out these conclusions.

Those with an interest in SR 40's future met in Ocala last week. And when the meeting adjourned the words "scenic byway" were on many minds. We're talking about local, state and federal officials — as well as citizens with environmental and safety concerns. And most agreed that SR 40 should be safer for motorists as well as wildlife.

For the first time there seems a sense that opposing sides may be willing to be more flexible. For example, many environmentalists were strongly opposed to widening SR 40, contending motorists would simply drive faster, resulting in more bears, deer and other animals killed on the road. Others, noting dangerous driving conditions and an extremely high number of accidents, injuries and deaths on this highway, focused primarily on extra traffic lanes.

Then there were local, state and federal government officials with a long list of mandatory studies and preliminary engineering, funding and other guidelines to address.

But there's nothing like a dedicated task force to bring people and ideas together. The State Road 40 Task Force has been meeting for a number of months now, and the common thread that seems to be bringing more people to the table of agreement is the idea that SR 40 become a scenic byway.

The road certainly has many attributes. For example, the historical Ocala National Forest was the first of its kind east of the Mississippi.

Another important historical element is the huge bridge crossing the narrow Ocklawaha River. Most locals know the bridge was to have accommodated the Cross Florida Barge Canal, now deauthorized, which would have destroyed the Ocklawaha.

There are numerous recreation areas, beautiful springs, hiking trails, vistas and small settlements that also have rich histories and opportunities for people to get out and enjoy.

The State Road 40 Task Force is to be commended for bringing the necessarythose people and agencies together that will be needed to make this highway not only safer, but to enhance and preserve the natural wild beauty of the national forest it bisects.