Highway Patrol: Avoid using U.S. 17 to get to SW Florida due to hurricane closures

University of Central Florida students are evacuate after apartment complex near the campus was totally flooded by rain from Hurricane Ian, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. AP Photo/John Raoux)

The Florida Highway Patrol is telling motorists, truckers and those bringing relief resources to hurricane-ravaged southwest Florida to avoid using U.S. 17.

The roadway is suffering from a number of closures and restrictions stemming from Hurricane Ian's flooding, wind damage and widespread power outages.

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