New toll road proposal sparks protest in Gainesville

A protest organized by the Sierra Club, as well as other environmental groups who are opposed to the idea of extending the Suncoast Parkway north from Citrus County to the Georgia state line, took place at Bo Diddley Community Plaza in Gainesville late Wednesday afternoon.

Whitey Markle, a member of the Sierra Club, called the proposed toll road "the biggest boondoggle since the Florida Barge Canal."

"There's no need for a new road," Markle added.

The state legislature approved the bill to begin the process of planning the Suncoast extension as well as two other toll roads.

The bill sits on the desk of Governor DeSantis, waiting for his approval, at the time of this writing.