Florida’s Turnpike (SR 821) Interchange Improvements at US 1 Exhibit Room

This exhibit depicts an overall aerial view of the project, with labels indicating local stakeholders, businesses, and property owners. The proposed improvements are also highlighted. North is oriented to the right.

Florida’s Turnpike (821) Interchange Improvements at US 1.

This project is being developed in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status. Please contact one of the Title VI coordinators shown here to express any concerns regarding Florida Turnpike’s compliance with Title VI.

 

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise – Title VI Coordinator

Desarae Stills, Title VI Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise P.O. Box 613069 Ocoee, FL 34761‑3069 (407) 264‑3111 [email protected]

FDOT Statewide Title VI Coordinator

Lisa Bethancourt, Statewide Title VI Coordinator, Florida Department of Transportation Business Growth & Engagement Office 605 Suwannee Street, MS 65 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0450 (850) 414-4742 [email protected]

El proyecto propuesto está siendo desarrollado de acuerdo con la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964. Bajo el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles, se solicita la participación del público sin distinción de raza, color, origen nacional, edad, sexo, religión, discapacidad o estado familiar. Las personas que deseen expresar sus preocupaciones pueden comunicarse con una de las oficinas mencionadas arriba. Para asistencia en español, contactar a Laura Duran al 407‑264‑3106 o [email protected].

This project is located at the US 1 and Florida’s Turnpike/State Road 821 interchange in Miami-Dade County. The project begins at US 1/State Road 5 and SW 352nd Street to the south in Florida City and extends north along US 1 to Davis Parkway and along Florida’s Turnpike/SR 821 north to near Milepost 1 in Homestead.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) upgrades will also be implemented along Florida’s Turnpike/SR 821 from the US 1 interchange to the Campbell Drive (SW 312th St.) interchange. The proposed enhancements are intended to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, increase roadway capacity, enhance safety, and provide more reliable travel throughout the corridor.

The US 1 and Palm Drive intersection is located just south of the Florida’s Turnpike/SR 821 southbound exit to US 1. Within this short distance many drivers from both the southbound Florida’s Turnpike/SR 821 and US 1 need to make lane changes or weave to position themselves into their desired intersection turn lanes.

This weaving creates a high level of conflict points and leads to traffic congestion. The signalized intersection at US 1 and Palm Drive is currently heavily congested during both morning and evening peak hours and is not able to process the existing heavy traffic volumes. This, combined with the weaving condition, leads to congestion on local roads and on the US 1 exit ramp.

Backups frequently extend along the US 1 exit ramp back to Davis Parkway, and onto Florida’s Turnpike/State Road 821.

Congestion contributes to crashes. Crash rates for this portion of the Turnpike are double that of similar highways. The crash rates at the US 1 intersection with Palm Drive are three times greater than at similar intersections.

This exhibit highlights the pedestrian and bicyclist improvements that are proposed at the Palm Drive intersection with US 1. These enhancements are intended to improve connectivity, accessibility, and safety for non-motorized users traveling through the corridor. North is oriented to the right.

Beginning at Palm Drive, the project includes construction of a shared-use path that will connect to the recently constructed sidewalk along westbound Palm Drive. This connection will provide a continuous facility for pedestrians and bicyclists traveling through the interchange area.

Bicyclists will also be able to cross US 1 and access the shared-use path on the east side of the intersection, creating additional connectivity between destinations on both sides of the corridor.

To improve pedestrian safety, refuge areas will be provided at key crossing locations, including before the dedicated right-turn lanes. These refuge areas allow pedestrians to cross the intersection in stages and reduce exposure to turning traffic.

This exhibit shows the proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements at the Davis Parkway intersection with US 1. North is oriented to the right. A designated bicycle connection from US 1 to the proposed shared-use path will provide a safer, more intuitive route through the interchange. New sidewalk connections will also improve pedestrian access to nearby destinations.

Finally, an additional pedestrian crossing leg will be added at the intersection, along with a pedestrian refuge area to improve crossing opportunities and increase safety for people walking through the area.

This is the proposed typical section of the improvements to the Florida’s Turnpike/State Road 821 Mainline, facing north, with a 12-foot deceleration lane added in the southbound direction. The existing guardrail and fencing will remain.

This exhibit shows the proposed improvements along State Road 5/U.S. 1/Northeast First Avenue/South Dixie Highway, facing north. It includes a 12-foot, shared use path on the southbound side. The southbound side will also be widened, creating two right turn lanes protected by a concrete traffic separator, four 11-foot travel lanes, and two left turn lanes protected by concrete traffic separators on both sides. No changes are proposed for the north-bound side.

This exhibit provides a closer look at the proposed improvements to State Road 9336, East Palm Drive, Southwest 344^th Street, facing east.  These improvements include a new, 11-foot wide left turn lane on the eastbound side, providing drivers three left turn lanes.

This exhibit illustrates the conditions along this road without improvements, continued increases in traffic volumes will worsen congestion and reduce safety. By the design year peak hour, traffic at the Palm Drive and US 1 intersection is projected to double. The already constrained intersection capacity will lead to more severe backups on the southbound Turnpike, extending beyond the Campbell Drive interchange. Significant congestion will also affect the surrounding local roadways.

 

The proposed improvements will substantially enhance traffic operations and safety. They will provide more efficient signal operations better capable of accommodating both existing and future traffic demands. As a result, signal delays and backups are expected to decrease—by as much as 80% in some cases. By improving traffic flow through the intersection, the likelihood of unsafe backups extending onto the higher-speed Turnpike lanes will be greatly reduced.

This exhibit highlights key milestones for this project. Design is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2027. Construction is planned to begin during the first quarter of 2028. Right of way acquisition is not anticipated for this project.

 

PROJECT SCHEDULE

 

Public Information Meeting

3rd Quarter 2026

Right-of-Way Acquisition

Not Anticipated

Begin Construction

1st Quarter 2028

Your comments are essential to this process and will help Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise understand your concerns and suggestions for improvement. While questions and comments are accepted at any time, we encourage the public to submit any questions or comments related to this public meeting by August 24, 2026. Questions can be directed to Latesa Turner, the project manager. Her mailing address, phone number, and email are provided on the slide. Alternatively, you may contact Fiorella Teodista, the community outreach coordinator for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise. Her contact information including mailing address, phone number, and email is also provided. You may also provide comments in person at the in-person public meeting, or by filling out a comment form on the project website.

On behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, and the consultant project team, we thank you for your interest in this project and for attending this Design Public Information Meeting.