Jump to content

Florida's Turnpike

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 156.75.180.220 (talk) at 14:11, 28 June 2005. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The current logo for Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.
File:Floridas Turnpike old south end.jpg
A 1957 photo showing the original south end, at the Golden Glades Interchange. The crossroad is SR 826 and US 441 (SR 7), both of which turn onto the road behind the photographer to cross the railroad and intersect SR 9 (now I-95).

Florida's Turnpike (also called the Florida Turnpike) is a toll road that runs 265 miles (426 km) down the Florida peninsula through 11 counties, from Interstate 75 at Wildwood, to near Miami. It runs through Orlando, where it crosses Interstate 4; and West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, where it parallels Interstate 95, often literally next to it. The Homestead Extension (HEFT) runs from north of Miami down through the western suburbs, to near Homestead. The original Turnpike is known internally (and sometimes shown on maps) as SR 91 and the HEFT is known as SR 821.

The first 110 miles (177 km) from Golden Glades to Fort Pierce opened in 1957 as the Sunshine State Parkway, under the former Florida State Turnpike Authority. The second section from Fort Pierce to Wildwood, was finished in 1964. The 47 mile (76 km) Homestead Extension was completed in 1974.

Tolls on the turnpike are set at 7.5 cents per mile US for two-axle vehicles. As the turnpike system is a primary route useful for evacuations, the state will suspend tolls on the Turnpike, as well as other roads in the system when a hurricane watch is issued or when other state or national emergencies warrant rapid movement of the population. Payment is via coins and SunPass electronic toll collection near the urban and suburban areas of Miami and Orlando, and via ticket the rest of the way (south of Kissimmee and north of Lantana).

Tolls collected on Turnpike-owned roads are used to meet debt service obligations, and for operation and meaintenance of the system. Profits, in conjunction with the issuance of revenue bonds, may fund new Turnpike-system roads or major system enhancement projects. Management is by the Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Exits on the highway are on the mile-log system. The Turnpike started using this system long before Florida's interstate highways were on the system, but originally used a sequential system, and then a hybrid where adjacent exit numbers differed by 4 south of SR 60 (exit 60 at the time) and 5 north of SR 60. Motorist-aid call boxes are located on both outside shoulders of the road every mile (1.6 km), and send only a signal indicating the need for gasoline, repair (tire or engine), or emergency services (police, ambulance, or firefighters).

Service plazas are open 24 hours per day, most having Burger King and other fast food. Other services include Internet access, travel and tourism info and tickets, picnic areas, TV news, Florida Lottery, and of course restrooms and public phones. SunPass transponders are available at all locations.

In 1998, the Florida Legislature designated the turnpike the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, after the 40th U.S. President. However, this designation did not replace the turnpike's existing name, only appearing on a few signs along the route.

Interchanges

  • US 1 (SR 5) south - Key West southbound only
  • 1 US 1 (SR 5) north - Florida City southbound only
  • 2 Campbell Dr - Homestead southbound only
  • 5 SW 288th St/Biscayne Dr
  • 6 SW 137th Ave/Speedway Blvd southbound only
  • 9 SR 989 - SW 112th Ave
  • Homestead Toll Plaza
  • 11 Cutler Ridge Blvd/SW 216th St
  • 12 Cutler Ridge Blvd/Caribbean Blvd/SW 200th St
  • 13 SR 994 - Quail Roost Dr/Eureka Dr
  • 16 SR 992 - SW 152nd St/SW 117th Ave
  • 17 SR 874 to SR 826 - Miami northbound only
  • 19 SW 120th St
  • Snapper Creek Service Plaza
  • 20 SR 94 - SW 88th St/Kendall Dr
  • Bird Road Toll Plaza
  • 23 SR 976 - SW 40th St
  • 25 US 41 (SR 90) - SW 8th St
  • 26A SR 836 east - Miami International Airport/NW 107th Ave
  • 26B NW 12th St
  • 29 NW 41st St
  • Okeechobee Toll Plaza
  • 34 NW 106th St/Gran Park Blvd
  • 35 US 27 (SR 25) - Okeechobee Rd
  • 39 I-75 (SR 93) - Naples northbound only
  • 43 SR 823 - Red Rd/NW 57th Ave
  • Miramar Toll Plaza southbound only
  • 47 SR 817 - University Dr north/NW 27th Ave south

end Homestead Extension

note: 267A and 267B are switched southbound

Interchanges on the spur towards Miami

This was part of the original Turnpike, bypassed when the Homestead Extension was built.

Other roads

The turnpike system also extends to several other toll roads in the state:

Template:Flsr

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Florida%27s_Turnpike&oldid=17761000"