A portion of Archer Road will receive an $8 million face-lift come October if everything pans out.
UF plans to take ownership of the section of Archer Road between 13th Street and Southwest 16th Avenue, an area surrounding Shands at UF, the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center and UF's College of Veterinary Medicine.
This area, to be renamed Health Care Park, will have added bike lanes, sidewalks and landscaping to make it more pedestrian friendly, according to Ed Poppell, UF's vice president of business affairs.
In addition, the speed limit will be reduced from 35 mph to 20 to match the rate on campus.
The bend in the road at the intersection between Archer Road and 13th Street will be removed and made into a perpendicular intersection, Poppell said.
Road signs will also be added to help direct patients and visitors, and an entrance, such as an awning over the road, will be installed to welcome visitors.
"We have thousands of visitors a day," Poppell said. "They should be able to enjoy their time here."
