In Brevard County, a new I-95 interchange is expected to ease traffic congestion in the growing central part of the county.

  • I-95 interchange to ease traffic congestion
  • Officials ran into bald eagle next at nearby woods
  • Wildlife officer to monitor nest 3 days/week

But the project isn't soaring to completion without protecting nature.

The long awaited project is called a diverging diamond design, which will help relieve congestion between the Fiske Boulevard and Wickham Road exits.

It keeps the ramps closer to the interstate, away from local neighborhoods, and is said to improve traffic flow plus safety.

But in the planning stages, officials discovered a large bald eagle nest in nearby woods.

That became a key issue as the construction of the bridge moves forward.

After evaluation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, it was determined no work would take place within 330 feet during eagle nesting season, which in the south runs from late September through November.

Plus, a wildlife officer is monitoring an area 660 feet around the nest at least three days a week to make sure the area is protected.

Valerie Woodard works in Viera, but lives down in Malabar. Her commute is 35-40 minutes.

But now the new I-95 interchange is being built at Viera Boulevard.

"It will cut my commute down by 10 minutes," said Woodard.

For Woodard, saving time is important to her, but so is saving the environment.

"I'm glad they are taking the time to do that, we don't do enough of it these days," she said.

The cost of building the new interchange is $17 million and will be complete by Spring 2019.