FPID: 435461-1

Introduction

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (The Enterprise) is planning to widen 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 Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) widening from north of Atlantic Boulevard (Milepost 9.0) to north of Sample Road (Milepost 12.0) will be the second segment of the series to be constructed.

This project covers approximately three (3) miles of the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869). The proposed improvements include widening this segment to increase the number of lanes from six (6) to ten (10) lanes. However, the additional lanes will not open until the adjacent widening projects are complete. The project will also reconfigure the Sample Road Interchange to enhance safety and traffic flow.

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.

The Planning and PD&E Phases of this project have been completed, and the project is currently in the Design Phase. Construction plans, specifications, and final estimates to build a project are developed during this phase. The next step is the Right of Way (ROW) phase when needed property is purchased for the project.  ROW is not required for this project since all proposed improvements will be within the Enterprise’s limited access ROW.

The improvements for the project include:

  • Widen the existing roadway to ten (10) lanes (striped to six (6) lanes until adjacent segments are constructed)
  • Widen existing bridges over Sample Road and a drainage canal
  • Convert the existing Sample Road interchange to a partial Diverging Diamond Interchange
  • Replace and upgrade the existing Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), including communication and traffic monitoring devices
  • Replace the existing roadway lighting system with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting

Other improvements include drainage and stormwater treatment, signing and pavement marking, and landscaping. All proposed improvements will occur within the existing Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) ROW and therefore, no ROW acquisition is needed.

Project Background

The Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) is a 21-mile limited access roadway located in northern Broward County. The majority of the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) 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, Florida’s Turnpike, and to I-95 through the SW 10th Street Connector Project. Within the project limits, the Everglades Wildlife Management Area is located to the west of Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) and residential and commercial developments to the east.

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 in the Adjacent Projects map. The Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869) widening from north of Atlantic Boulevard (Milepost 9.0) to north of Sample Road (Milepost 12.0) will be the second segment of the series to be constructed.

The adjacent widening projects north and south of the Sample Road interchange project will be constructed in the following order:

  • 443956-1: Atlantic Boulevard Interchange
  • 435461-1: Atlantic Boulevard to Sample Road
  • 437155-1: Sunrise Boulevard to Oakland Park Boulevard
  • 437155-5: NW 8th Street to Sunrise Boulevard
  • 435461-5: University Drive to SR 7/US 441
  • 435461-4: Sample Road to University Drive
  • 437155-6: Oakland Park Boulevard to Commercial Boulevard

Study Area

The project segment is located in the city of Coral Springs in Broward County. The Enterprise is coordinating with Broward County and the City of Coral Springs to provide the needed capacity improvements along the Sawgrass Expressway (SR 869).

Environment

A 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) was completed in 2017. Approval of this study is documented in the State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) that was signed on July 28, 2017.

The project is expected to require an Individual Environmental Permit from the South Florida Water Management District, Section 404 Permit from Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and a General Construction Permit from North Springs Improvement District. All applications for required permits will be made at the appropriate time.

A noise study evaluation, consistent with federal and state regulations, was performed for this project.

The proposed improvements will have no impact to the existing noise walls and all existing noise walls will remain. Additionally, a new noise wall is proposed at the Coral Springs Sports Complex.

For more information regarding the noise wall evaluation process, please view the Florida’s Turnpike Traffic Noise Video.

A draft copy of the Traffic Noise Memorandum prepared by Turnpike is available for download. Click here to download the document.

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.

Project Schedule

Stay Connected

Project inquires, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:

JASON CHRISTOPHER, P.E., ENV SP

Project Manager

Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise

Daniel Jimenez

Community Outreach Specialist
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (WSP USA)

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