Introduction
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (Enterprise), part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is planning to widen the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) from south of Sunrise Boulevard (Milepost 0.0) to south of SR 7 (US 441) (Milepost 18.0), through a series of projects. These projects will provide additional capacity to meet future traffic demand in 2045, improve hurricane evacuation times and improve safety within the corridor. The Atlantic Boulevard Interchange Improvements project will be the first segment of the series to be constructed.
This project, located from north of Commercial Boulevard (Milepost 7.5) to north of Atlantic Boulevard (Milepost 8.9), is being prioritized to improve the drainage capacity in the vicinity of the interchange and address flooding concerns along Atlantic Boulevard and the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) ramps, which will include the reconstruction of the Atlantic Boulevard Interchange. Additional safety and operational improvements are proposed along Atlantic Boulevard, including the incorporation of a bike lanes in both directions from west of the Atlantic Blvd. Interchange to Lakeview Drive and to NW 122nd St in the eastbound direction. There are no access changes proposed along Atlantic Boulevard.
The Enterprise follows a five-phase Project Development Process for delivering needed infrastructure improvements to communities throughout the state. The phases include Planning, Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study, Design, Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition, and Construction. This project is currently in the Construction phase, which is the fifth and final phase of the FDOT project development process. Construction is anticipated to start the first quarter of 2023.
Within the limits of the project, the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) will be widened to accommodate ten 12-foot travel lanes (five (5) in each direction), a 12-foot outside shoulder, a 15-foot inside shoulder and a 32-foot median with a barrier wall (15-foot inside shoulders and a 2-foot barrier wall) at the Atlantic Boulevard interchange area. Since this is the first segment being constructed to accommodate ten lanes, only six (6) lanes will be striped for use until the adjacent segments of the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) are constructed.
The improvements for the project include:
- Widen the existing roadway to 10 lanes (striped to six lanes until adjacent segments are constructed)
- New bridge at the Atlantic Boulevard interchange
- Left and right turn lanes at the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Lakeview Drive
- Bike lanes along Atlantic Boulevard in both directions from west of the Atlantic Boulevard Interchange to Lakeview Drive and to NW 122nd St in the eastbound direction Traffic signal improvements at the intersections of:
- Trailhead Access Road and Atlantic Boulevard
- Atlantic Boulevard and Lakeview Drive
- Atlantic Boulevard eastbound and northbound off-ramps
- Stormwater management enhancements including modification of the pond west of the interchange
- Repair of the existing box culvert (C-14 Cypress Creek Canal) south of the Atlantic Boulevard Interchange
Other improvements include intelligent traffic systems (ITS), signing and pavement marking, landscaping and lighting. Minor ROW acquisition is anticipated along Atlantic Boulevard between the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) and Lakeview Drive to accommodate the proposed improvements. No relocations are anticipated.
Noise Studies are performed in the PD&E phase and the Design phase, and re-evaluated if there is a major change in design to the roadway. A noise wall evaluation for this project has been performed. Existing noise walls will remain in place. If required, noise walls will be constructed with adjacent widening projects.
Project Background
The Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) is a 21-mile limited access facility located in northern Broward County that provides a vital link to Southwest Florida, Southern Broward, and Miami-Dade Counties. The Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) is part of Florida’s Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) and the National Highway System (NHS). The majority of the facility is located on the western fringes of the Broward County urban area and is designated as an evacuation route providing connectivity to other evacuation routes such as I-75, the Florida’s Turnpike Mainline (SR 91) and I-95. Widening of the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) from south of Sunrise Boulevard (Milepost 0.0) to south of SR 7/US 441 (Milepost 18.0) will occur through a series of projects as shown below.
ADJACENT PROJECT CONSTRUCTION SEGMENTS
435461-5
University Dr. to SR 7 (US 441)
435461-4
Sample Rd. to University Dr.
435461-1
Atlantic Blvd. to Sample Rd.
437155-6
Oakland Park Blvd. to Commercial Blvd.
437155-1
Sunrise Blvd. to Oakland Park Blvd.
437155-5
NW 8 St. to Sunrise Blvd.
Study Area
The project segment is located in the cities of Coral Springs and Tamarac in Broward County. The Enterprise is coordinating with Broward County and these two cities to provide the needed capacity improvements along the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) .
Environment
This project is consistent with the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for the widening of the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) from south of Sunrise Boulevard (Milepost 0.0) to south of SR7 (US 441) (Milepost 18.0). Approval of this study is documented in the State Environmental Impact Report SEIR that was signed on July 28, 2017.
Innovation
The Enterprise is at the forefront of planning for a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced transportation system for the future. The Enterprise continually seeks opportunities to integrate emerging transportation technologies that can help reduce congestion, create mobility choices, minimize environmental impacts and improve safety. The Enterprise also recognizes that connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies hold unprecedented opportunities for enhancing mobility and increasing safety on our roadways.
If you have an idea for a technology or innovation that you would like to be considered as part of this study, please reach out to one of the contacts in the Stay Connected section below.
Schedule
A Virtual Design Public Information Meeting will be held on July 8, 2021 and an in-person event will be held on July 15, 2021. If the in-person meeting cannot be held due to inclement weather, the meeting will be held on the alternate date of July 27, 2021. Additional information for both meetings will be provided.
Schedule is subject to change.
Documents
A draft copy of the Traffic Noise Memorandum prepared by Turnpike is available for download. Click here to download the document.
Stay Connected
Project inquires, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:
Teresa Price, P.E.
Project Manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Public Information Office using the contact information below:
Fiorella Teodista
Community Outreach Specialist
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
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Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, or family status.
If you need special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or require translation services (free of charge), please contact the Project Manager using the contact information listed on this page. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or 955-8770 (voice).