The Most Expensive Road Projects in Florida
A brief look at the Florida Department of Transportation's most expensive roadway construction projects currently underway.
13.Interstate 95 Widening - $118 million
Location: Brevard County
FDOT District: 5
This project will expand the last significant four-lane stretch of I-95 in Florida into a six lane roadway. Stretching 29.70 miles in Brevard and Volusia Counties, this widening project is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2016.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/project/406869-8/I-95_Widening_from_South_of_SR_406_to_North_of_SR_44
12. Interstate 4 Widening - $135 million
Location: Volusia County
FDOT District: 5
The project will expand the last 12.34 mile, four-lane stretch of I-4 in Central Florida to six lanes between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The anticipated completion date is Winter 2015.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/project/408464-1/I-4_widening_from_SR_44_to_East_of_I-95
11. State Road 9B - $170 million
Location: Jacksonville
FDOT District: 2
When completed, State Road 9B is planned to be a 7.6 mile limited access highway, connecting Interstate 95 to Interstate 295 East Beltway on Jacksonville's Southside.
Construction on the long proposed highway was jump-started with funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
In the past, it has been mentioned that this highway will be branded I-795 after it is completed mid-2016.
With Bass Pro Shops considering a site that will need access from this highway, a Project Development & Environmental study for a 1.5 mile extension to County Road 2209 (St. Johns Parkway) in northern St. Johns County is also underway.
For more information: https://www.sr9b.com/Pages/Home.aspx
Top 10
10. State Road 23/First Coast Expressway - $180 million
Location: Jacksonville/Clay County
FDOT District: 2
First Coast Expressway is the new name for the controversial 46-mile, $2 billion First Coast Outer Beltway.
Failing to secure a desired private sector financing partnership, in 2012, FDOT decided to move forward with the construction of a 15 mile segment between Interstate 10 in Jacksonville's Westside and SR 21 (Blanding Boulevard) in Clay County.
When completed in Summer 2016, the First Coast Expressway will be the first toll road in Northeast Florida since the 1980s.
For more information: https://firstcoastexpressway.com/BFCExpress/
9. U.S. 19 - $207 million
Location: Pinellas County
FDOT District: 7
US 19 is the main north-south thoroughare in the Bay Area's Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.
Although a variety of improvements are underway or proposed along the highway throughout the region, in Pinellas County, US 19 is being upgraded into a limited access facility. Construction currently underway will eliminate traffic signals and replace them with new interchanges between Whitney Road and County Road 95, just north of Clearwater. Summer 2015 is the date of anticipated completion.
For more information: https://myus19.com/
8. Interstate 275 Widening - $215 million
Location: Tampa
FDOT District: 7
The Florida Department of Transportation is rebuilding and widening Interstate 275 from east of State Road 60 to the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.
When completed in Fall 2016, there will be four through-lanes in each direction, a flatter roadway to improve sight distance and decrease the chances of accidents, improved interchanges to help move traffic on and off I-275, and a wide median to decrease cost and public impact when future improvements are built.
The project will include a multi-use path for cyclist and pedestrians and a context sensitive retaining walls at all overpasses. In the future, the bus rapid transit or light rail transit will be constructed within the Interstate's median between downtown and the Westshore district.
See video:https://previews.urscreativeimaging.com/future_projects/flash-videos/I275.html
For more information: https://www.i4expansion.org/projects/projectinfo.asp?projectID=202&RoadID=1
7. Interstate 95 Overland Bridge Replacement Project - $227 million
Location: Jacksonville
FDOT District: 2
This project will replace the series of overpasses that carry traffic on Interstate 95 over Hendricks, Kings and Montana avenues and Atlantic Boulevard near Downtown Jacksonville.
As the project is built, traffic will use parallel roadways, which upon completion of the I-95 bridge structures, will remain and provide additional capacity for traffic between the Fuller Warren Bridge and north of Emerson Street. Furthermore, a new interchange at Atlantic Boulevard will allow direct access to I-95 to and from the urban neighborhoods of San Marco and St. Nicholas.
Construction on the 2.3 mile stretch is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2016.
For more information: https://www.i95overlandbridge.com/
6. State Road 589/Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway - $386 million
Location: Tampa/Hillsborough County
FDOT District: 8 - Turnpike Authority
This improvement project will widen 11 miles of the Veterans Expressway in Hillsborough County providing much needed congestion relief to this regionally significant corridor. The improvements, which are divided into six separate projects, double the capacity of the highway from four to eight lanes. Part of the widening improvements include reconstruction of 38 existing bridges and the building of three new bridges. The widening project also includes a concurrent project to convert the section from Memorial Highway to Van Dyke Road to all-electronic tolling (AET) providing non-stop travel to the nearly 150,000 customers who travel the Veterans Expressway on a daily basis. The project will also introduce the Express Lane concept to the region. A congestion management tool, Express Lanes offer motorists a choice that provides an opportunity for a through-trip, with greater trip reliability and safety. Construction started in 2013 and is anticipated to be completed in Spring 2015.
For more information: https://floridasturnpike.com/construction_current.cfm#Vets
5. Interstate 4 / Selmon Expressway Connector - $425 million
Location: Tampa
FDOT District: 7
The I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector is a new one mile north-south toll road, which connecting Interstate 4 with the Selmon Expressway west of 31st Street in Tampa. This elevated roadway links these two major east-west corridors, significantly improve the movement of people and goods.
The new roadway also provide exclusive truck lanes for direct access to the Port of Tampa, removing heavy truck traffic from local streets in Ybor City, one of only two National Historic Districts in Florida.
Construction started in March 2010 and is completion is anticipated in Spring 2014. On January 6, 2014, all lanes were opened to traffic.
For more information: https://www.i4expansion.org/projects/projectinfo.asp?projectID=175&RoadID=3
4.Palmetto Expressway/Dolphin Expressway Interchange - $560 million
Location: Miami
FDOT District: 6
On November 30, 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six in partnership with the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) began a reconstruction project of the SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and SR 836(Dolphin Expressway) Interchange. The construction limits are approximately just north of SW 8 Street to NW 25 Street on SR 826; just east of NW 87 Avenue to NW 57 Avenue on SR 836.
Capacity improvements include the reconstruction and widening along both SR 826 and SR. 836, the construction of a four-level interchange as well as the reconstruction/modifications of the Flagler Street/ SR 826 and the Milam Dairy Road/NW 72 Avenue/SR 836 interchanges. The project is expected to be completed by Fall 2015.
For more information: https://www.826-836.com/project-overview/project-information/
3. Port of Miami Tunnel - $663 million
Location: Miami
FDOT District: 6
The Port of Miami Tunnel project is a highly complex project which is being built through a public-private partnership (PPP or P3) that includes the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of said project. It is a 35-year concession agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (Owner) and MAT Concessionaire, LLC (Concessionaire), which includes 55 months for design and construction being carried out by Bouygues Civil Works Florida (BCWF).
Nearly 16,000 vehicles travel to and from the Port of Miami (POM) through downtown streets each weekday. Truck traffic makes up 28% (or 4,480) of this number (Source: 2009 PB Americas Traffic Study). Existing truck and bus routes restrict the port’s ability to grow, drive up costs for port users and present safety hazards. They also congest and limit redevelopment of the northern portion of Miami’s Central Business District.
The benefits of the Port of Miami Tunnel include providing a direct connection from the Port of Miami to highways via Watson Island to I-395, keeping the Port of Miami, the County’s second largest economic generator, competitive, and making downtown streets safer by reducing congestion on downtown streets.
For more information: https://www.portofmiamitunnel.com/home/
2. Interstate 595 Express Corridor Improvements Project - $1.2 billion
Location: Broward County
FDOT District: 4
The I-595 Express Corridor Improvements Project consists of the reconstruction of the I-595 mainline and all associated improvements to frontage roads and ramps from the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway interchange to the I-595/I-95 interchange , for a total length along I-595 of approximately 10.5 miles, and approximately 2.5 miles on Florida’s Turnpike from Peters Road to Griffin Road. The project also includes a parallel multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclist and the implementation of express bus service within the corridor. Construction started in June 2009 and the estimated completion date is Summer 2014.
For more information: https://www.i-595.com/index.php
1. State Road 429/Wekiva Parkway - $1.6 billion
Location: Seminole County
FDOT District: 5
The Wekiva Parkway will connect State Roads 429 and 417, thus completing Central Florida's beltway around northwest metropolitan Orlando. This estimated $1.6 billion project includes $500 million of non-toll road improvements including widening seven miles of SR 46 in Lake and Seminole Counties, rebuilding the US 441/SR 46 interchange in Mount Dora and shifting the CR 46A connection to SR 46 so wildlife can move more safely between habitats.
According to the controversial project's proponents, the 25-mile tolled expressway will provide travel alternatives and relieve US 441, SR 46 and other area roads of traffic congestion resulting from growth and travel between Orange, Lake and Seminole Counties.
Construction on the first small segment of Wekiva Parkway started in late 2012. However, the lion's share of the project won't officially start construction until the end of 2014. Overall completion is anticipated in 2021.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/projects#!Road/WekivaParkway/Construction
https://wekivaparkway.com/#
Full list of FDOT major construction projects currently underway: https://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/majorprojects.shtm
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
Location: Brevard County
FDOT District: 5
This project will expand the last significant four-lane stretch of I-95 in Florida into a six lane roadway. Stretching 29.70 miles in Brevard and Volusia Counties, this widening project is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2016.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/project/406869-8/I-95_Widening_from_South_of_SR_406_to_North_of_SR_44
12. Interstate 4 Widening - $135 million
Location: Volusia County
FDOT District: 5
The project will expand the last 12.34 mile, four-lane stretch of I-4 in Central Florida to six lanes between DeLand and Daytona Beach. The anticipated completion date is Winter 2015.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/project/408464-1/I-4_widening_from_SR_44_to_East_of_I-95
11. State Road 9B - $170 million
Location: Jacksonville
FDOT District: 2
When completed, State Road 9B is planned to be a 7.6 mile limited access highway, connecting Interstate 95 to Interstate 295 East Beltway on Jacksonville's Southside.
Construction on the long proposed highway was jump-started with funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
In the past, it has been mentioned that this highway will be branded I-795 after it is completed mid-2016.
With Bass Pro Shops considering a site that will need access from this highway, a Project Development & Environmental study for a 1.5 mile extension to County Road 2209 (St. Johns Parkway) in northern St. Johns County is also underway.
For more information: https://www.sr9b.com/Pages/Home.aspx
Top 10
10. State Road 23/First Coast Expressway - $180 million
Location: Jacksonville/Clay County
FDOT District: 2
First Coast Expressway is the new name for the controversial 46-mile, $2 billion First Coast Outer Beltway.
Failing to secure a desired private sector financing partnership, in 2012, FDOT decided to move forward with the construction of a 15 mile segment between Interstate 10 in Jacksonville's Westside and SR 21 (Blanding Boulevard) in Clay County.
When completed in Summer 2016, the First Coast Expressway will be the first toll road in Northeast Florida since the 1980s.
For more information: https://firstcoastexpressway.com/BFCExpress/
9. U.S. 19 - $207 million
Location: Pinellas County
FDOT District: 7
US 19 is the main north-south thoroughare in the Bay Area's Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties.
Although a variety of improvements are underway or proposed along the highway throughout the region, in Pinellas County, US 19 is being upgraded into a limited access facility. Construction currently underway will eliminate traffic signals and replace them with new interchanges between Whitney Road and County Road 95, just north of Clearwater. Summer 2015 is the date of anticipated completion.
For more information: https://myus19.com/
8. Interstate 275 Widening - $215 million
Location: Tampa
FDOT District: 7
The Florida Department of Transportation is rebuilding and widening Interstate 275 from east of State Road 60 to the Hillsborough River in downtown Tampa.
When completed in Fall 2016, there will be four through-lanes in each direction, a flatter roadway to improve sight distance and decrease the chances of accidents, improved interchanges to help move traffic on and off I-275, and a wide median to decrease cost and public impact when future improvements are built.
The project will include a multi-use path for cyclist and pedestrians and a context sensitive retaining walls at all overpasses. In the future, the bus rapid transit or light rail transit will be constructed within the Interstate's median between downtown and the Westshore district.
See video:https://previews.urscreativeimaging.com/future_projects/flash-videos/I275.html
For more information: https://www.i4expansion.org/projects/projectinfo.asp?projectID=202&RoadID=1
7. Interstate 95 Overland Bridge Replacement Project - $227 million
Location: Jacksonville
FDOT District: 2
This project will replace the series of overpasses that carry traffic on Interstate 95 over Hendricks, Kings and Montana avenues and Atlantic Boulevard near Downtown Jacksonville.
As the project is built, traffic will use parallel roadways, which upon completion of the I-95 bridge structures, will remain and provide additional capacity for traffic between the Fuller Warren Bridge and north of Emerson Street. Furthermore, a new interchange at Atlantic Boulevard will allow direct access to I-95 to and from the urban neighborhoods of San Marco and St. Nicholas.
Construction on the 2.3 mile stretch is anticipated to be completed in Summer 2016.
For more information: https://www.i95overlandbridge.com/
6. State Road 589/Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway - $386 million
Location: Tampa/Hillsborough County
FDOT District: 8 - Turnpike Authority
This improvement project will widen 11 miles of the Veterans Expressway in Hillsborough County providing much needed congestion relief to this regionally significant corridor. The improvements, which are divided into six separate projects, double the capacity of the highway from four to eight lanes. Part of the widening improvements include reconstruction of 38 existing bridges and the building of three new bridges. The widening project also includes a concurrent project to convert the section from Memorial Highway to Van Dyke Road to all-electronic tolling (AET) providing non-stop travel to the nearly 150,000 customers who travel the Veterans Expressway on a daily basis. The project will also introduce the Express Lane concept to the region. A congestion management tool, Express Lanes offer motorists a choice that provides an opportunity for a through-trip, with greater trip reliability and safety. Construction started in 2013 and is anticipated to be completed in Spring 2015.
For more information: https://floridasturnpike.com/construction_current.cfm#Vets
5. Interstate 4 / Selmon Expressway Connector - $425 million
Location: Tampa
FDOT District: 7
The I-4/Selmon Expressway Connector is a new one mile north-south toll road, which connecting Interstate 4 with the Selmon Expressway west of 31st Street in Tampa. This elevated roadway links these two major east-west corridors, significantly improve the movement of people and goods.
The new roadway also provide exclusive truck lanes for direct access to the Port of Tampa, removing heavy truck traffic from local streets in Ybor City, one of only two National Historic Districts in Florida.
Construction started in March 2010 and is completion is anticipated in Spring 2014. On January 6, 2014, all lanes were opened to traffic.
For more information: https://www.i4expansion.org/projects/projectinfo.asp?projectID=175&RoadID=3
4.Palmetto Expressway/Dolphin Expressway Interchange - $560 million
Location: Miami
FDOT District: 6
On November 30, 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six in partnership with the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) began a reconstruction project of the SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and SR 836(Dolphin Expressway) Interchange. The construction limits are approximately just north of SW 8 Street to NW 25 Street on SR 826; just east of NW 87 Avenue to NW 57 Avenue on SR 836.
Capacity improvements include the reconstruction and widening along both SR 826 and SR. 836, the construction of a four-level interchange as well as the reconstruction/modifications of the Flagler Street/ SR 826 and the Milam Dairy Road/NW 72 Avenue/SR 836 interchanges. The project is expected to be completed by Fall 2015.
For more information: https://www.826-836.com/project-overview/project-information/
3. Port of Miami Tunnel - $663 million
Location: Miami
FDOT District: 6
The Port of Miami Tunnel project is a highly complex project which is being built through a public-private partnership (PPP or P3) that includes the design, build, finance, operation and maintenance of said project. It is a 35-year concession agreement between the Florida Department of Transportation (Owner) and MAT Concessionaire, LLC (Concessionaire), which includes 55 months for design and construction being carried out by Bouygues Civil Works Florida (BCWF).
Nearly 16,000 vehicles travel to and from the Port of Miami (POM) through downtown streets each weekday. Truck traffic makes up 28% (or 4,480) of this number (Source: 2009 PB Americas Traffic Study). Existing truck and bus routes restrict the port’s ability to grow, drive up costs for port users and present safety hazards. They also congest and limit redevelopment of the northern portion of Miami’s Central Business District.
The benefits of the Port of Miami Tunnel include providing a direct connection from the Port of Miami to highways via Watson Island to I-395, keeping the Port of Miami, the County’s second largest economic generator, competitive, and making downtown streets safer by reducing congestion on downtown streets.
For more information: https://www.portofmiamitunnel.com/home/
2. Interstate 595 Express Corridor Improvements Project - $1.2 billion
Location: Broward County
FDOT District: 4
The I-595 Express Corridor Improvements Project consists of the reconstruction of the I-595 mainline and all associated improvements to frontage roads and ramps from the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway interchange to the I-595/I-95 interchange , for a total length along I-595 of approximately 10.5 miles, and approximately 2.5 miles on Florida’s Turnpike from Peters Road to Griffin Road. The project also includes a parallel multiuse path for pedestrians and cyclist and the implementation of express bus service within the corridor. Construction started in June 2009 and the estimated completion date is Summer 2014.
For more information: https://www.i-595.com/index.php
1. State Road 429/Wekiva Parkway - $1.6 billion
Location: Seminole County
FDOT District: 5
The Wekiva Parkway will connect State Roads 429 and 417, thus completing Central Florida's beltway around northwest metropolitan Orlando. This estimated $1.6 billion project includes $500 million of non-toll road improvements including widening seven miles of SR 46 in Lake and Seminole Counties, rebuilding the US 441/SR 46 interchange in Mount Dora and shifting the CR 46A connection to SR 46 so wildlife can move more safely between habitats.
According to the controversial project's proponents, the 25-mile tolled expressway will provide travel alternatives and relieve US 441, SR 46 and other area roads of traffic congestion resulting from growth and travel between Orange, Lake and Seminole Counties.
Construction on the first small segment of Wekiva Parkway started in late 2012. However, the lion's share of the project won't officially start construction until the end of 2014. Overall completion is anticipated in 2021.
For more information: https://www.cflroads.com/projects#!Road/WekivaParkway/Construction
https://wekivaparkway.com/#
Full list of FDOT major construction projects currently underway: https://www.dot.state.fl.us/publicinformationoffice/moreDOT/majorprojects.shtm
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com