Introduction
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, part of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for widening Florida’s Turnpike/SR 91 from SR70 to SR 60 in St. Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee and Osceola counties. The purpose of this project is to increase capacity, meet existing and future travel demands, and address roadway deficiencies. The project will also evaluate potential new and/or modified interchange locations.
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, who collect and analyze project-related information to determine social, economic, physical and environmental impacts. Afterward they develop the best solution for a community’s transportation needs.
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.
Project Background
The Enterpise 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.
The PD&E Study will evaluate capacity and interchange improvements that will include:
- New limited access (toll) lanes
- Modifications to the existing SR 60 interchange
- New interchange locations
The proposed corridor improvements will bring additional benefits such as:
- Increasing capacity
- Meeting existing and future travel demands
- Addressing roadway deficiencies
Study Area
The project limits are from north of SR 70 (Fort Pierce – MP 152) to north of SR 60 (Yeehaw Junction – MP 193). The total project length is approximately 41 miles.
Environment
In this PD&E study, we will examine the existing environmental conditions across the Social, Cultural, Natural and Physical Environments so that we can analyze the potential impacts of various alternatives. The Social Environment in the project area ranges from more populated areas to the south to rural agricultural and conservation lands. There are multiple types of easements and upcoming planned developments. Cultural resource surveys have not covered the entire project area and additional surveys will be conducted. Multiple potentially historic structures require further evaluation. Within the Natural Environment, there is potential habitat for multiple listed species as well as wetlands. A bat colony exists in the bridge by Angle Road, and there is a nearby Snail Kite critical habitat and a potential waterbird nesting colony. There are relatively few sensitive noise receptors due to the rural nature of the project area. The project crosses multiple basins and surface waters may flow north into the St. John’s River or south towards the Florida Everglades, depending on location. Contaminated sites tend to cluster around existing intersections, particularly at Yeehaw Junction.
A State Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) is the expected level of environmental documentation required for this project.
Innovation
Florida’s Turnpike 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
As part of the PD&E study, alternatives will be developed and refined to meet the 2030 design year transportation needs. The alternatives 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 alternatives. A Public Hearing will then be scheduled to present the recommended alternatives to the public for feedback. Comments from the Public Hearing will be considered, and the study will be finalized.
Documents
Stay Connected
Project inquires, comments, innovation/technology ideas, or requests to be added to the project mailing list, can be mailed or emailed to:
Michael Leo, P.E.
Project Manager
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Rax Jung, Ph.D.,P.E.
Project Development 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:
Daniel Jimenez
Community Outreach Specialist
Consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
Comment Form
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).