The Florida Department of Transportation plans to redesign the Apalachee Parkway- Magnolia Drive intersection. FDOT has scheduled a public hearing to discuss the project with residents Thursday.

The busy intersection features corners occupied by a hotel, drug stores and a fully occupied shopping plaza. Five restaurants in the plaza attract people on foot and by car.

FDOT officials said the plan would spend $597,000 to reconfigure the intersection to improve traffic and pedestrian safety. Service roads on the east and west sides of Apalachee Parkway would be transformed into right turn lanes. The redesign would widen the parkway and eliminate two service road crossings for pedestrians walking on Magnolia.

The public hearing is scheduled for 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at FDOT's Burns Building Auditorium at 605 Suwannee St.

FDOT expects to start the project in the fall of 2018 and complete it by the summer of 2019. The road work will be performed during the overnight hours to reduce traffic congestion and other inconveniences during business hours.