Monday morning was a little easier this morning for drivers in Manatee County.  As of Sunday evening, all Southbound lanes of I-75 at US-301 as well as the ramps to the interstate were reopened to traffic. 

The I-75 overpass over US-301 had to be replaced after a fuel tanker fell over the guardrail on June 4th and exploded.  The flames charred the interstate and local US-301.

For more than three weeks, drivers in both directions faced delays as two Southbound lanes were rerouted onto the Northbound traffic pattern.  But with favorable weather and a $300,000 state bonus incentive, construction crews wrapped up the emergency repairs ahead of schedule. 

State transportation officials say the two Northbound and two Southbound lanes of US-301 are expected to open Tuesday night.  Currently, one lane gets by in both directions.