Introduction
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), has completed a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study for Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) Widening from Jupiter (Indiantown Road/SR 706) to Ft. Pierce (Okeechobee Road/SR 70), in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The project consists of widening Florida’s Turnpike within the project limits by adding general toll lanes.
The PD&E study is the second phase of the FDOT project development process. Each PD&E study requires the combined efforts of professional engineers, planners and scientists, to collect data, develop and evaluate alternatives, conduct studies, prepare reports and gather input from the general public, applicable agencies, and interested parties. The goal of the PD&E process is to develop the best solution which meets the transportation needs and offers the greatest benefit with the least impact.
Click here to see the PD&E Process video.
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.
The PD&E study was completed in June 2022. The design, right-of-way (ROW) and construction phases for the widening any improvement projects within the study limits are not currently funded in the tentative 5-year work program (Fiscal Year 2023 – 2027). Therefore, no specific dates for any following phases have been set yet.
Project Background
FTE identified the need to widen this portion of Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) to add capacity that will accommodate future traffic volumes of freight and passenger vehicles linked to the projected growth in population and industry for the year 2045. Florida’s Turnpike is also a major evacuation route for Southeast Florida.
This section of Florida’s Turnpike (SR 91) is currently a four lanes (two lanes in each direction). Existing interchanges within the study corridor included SW Martin Highway (SR 714), Becker Road, Port St. Lucie Boulevard (SR 716), and Okeechobee Road (SR 70). Numerous bridge structures will need to be widened or reconstructed along with the roadway. The project corridor included crossings of the Loxahatchee River and St. Lucie Canal. Potential reconfiguration of existing interchanges and new interchange access locations were also considered as part of the PD&E study. It is anticipated at this time that a majority of the improvements will stay within the existing right of way.
The proposed corridor improvements will bring additional benefits to the community such as:
- reduced congestion
- enhanced mobility options for longer trips
- improved evacuation and emergency response times
This can be accomplished with a focus on avoiding and minimizing social, physical and environmental impacts.
This PD&E study evaluated capacity and interchange improvements that include:
- new limited access (toll) lanes
- modifications to existing interchanges
- new interchange locations
Study Area
The project limits are from Jupiter (Indiantown Road/SR 706) to Ft. Pierce (Okeechobee Road/SR 70) in Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. The total project length is approximately 37 miles.
Environment
The project’s potential effect on social, cultural, natural, and physical resources will be identified, along with potential mitigation measures. A State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) is the expected level of environmental documentation for this project.
Innovation
FTE is at the forefront of planning for a safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced transportation system for the future. FTE continually seeks opportunities to integrate emerging transportation technologies that can help reduce congestion, create mobility choices, minimize environmental impacts and improve safety. FTE 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
As part of the PD&E study, concepts will be developed and refined to meet the 2045 design year transportation needs. The concepts would be presented at an Alternatives Public Information Meeting for the public to provide feedback. The project team would review the feedback and refine the concepts. A Public Hearing would then be scheduled to present the recommended concepts to the public for feedback. Comments from the Public Hearing would be considered and the study will be finalized.
* PD&E Study completed in June 2022.
Documents
Meeting Date: July 2021
- Public Hearing Video
- Project Newsletter
- Welcome
- Title VI
- Project Location Map
- Project Purpose and Need
- Traffic (Year of Need for Mainline and Interchanges)
- Traffic (2045 No-build vs Build LOS)
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #1
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #2
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #3
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #4
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #5
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #6
- Preferred Alternative Concept Plan #7
- Thomas B. Manual Bridge (typical section)
- Evaluation Matrix
- Cost Estimate
- Project Schedule
- Draft SEIR
- Draft Noise Study
- Draft Sociocultural Memo
- Final Contamination Screening Evaluation Report
- Final Natural Resources Evaluation
- Final Pond Siting Report
- Final Location Hydraulics Report
Meeting Dates: February and March 2020
- PD&E Study Process
- Title VI Compliance
- Project Location Map
- Project Schedule
- Cost Estimate
- Traffic – Existing Conditions
- Traffic – Year of Need
- Traffic – Intersection Delay
- Comment Board
- Comment Form
- Meeting Handout (English)
- Thomas B Manuel Bridge Typical over St Lucie Canal
- Martin Highway Interchange Alternative
- Becker Road Interchange Alternative
- Port St Lucie Boulevard – Interchange Alternative
- Crosstown Parkway Interchange Alternative
- Midway Road Interchange Alternative
- SR 70/Okeechobee Road Interchange Alternative
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 117.0 to 122.1
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 122.1 to 127.5
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 127.5 to 132.8
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 132.8 to 138.1
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 138.1 to 143.4
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 143.4 to 148.7
- Mainline Widening Board – Milepost 148.7 to 154.0
Public Information Meeting Materials
- Martin County
- Palm Beach County
- St. Lucie County
- Martin Metropolitan Planning Organization
- Palm Beach Transportation Planning Agency
- St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization
- Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
- City of Fort Pierce
- City of Port St. Lucie
- City of Stuart
- Town of Jupiter
- Florida Department of Transportation
Stay Connected
Project inquires, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:
Brian Ribaric, P.E.
Project Manager for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (Atkins team)
Rax Jung, Ph.D.,P.E.
Project Development Engineer
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
For information in Spanish, please contact:
Para information en espańol por favor contacte:
Henry Pinzon, P.E.
Environmental Management Engineer
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Media inquiries should be directed to the FDOT, Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, Public Information Office using the contact information below:
Tom Alexander
Community Outreach Specialist
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (WSP USA)
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (WSP USA)
If you choose to provide feedback on this site or in an email, such information is a public record under Florida’s Government in the Sunshine Laws and available for public inspection upon demand. Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.
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).