Florida

[LilianaUwU]

goofy-ahh

We're not on TikTok, you can say ass.

[formulanone]

goofy-ahh

We're not on TikTok, you can say ass.

I thought it was a pause for thought, honestly...was forgetting which secret-menu number corresponded with what US/Interstate/Turnpike.

[D-Dey65]

The following tolling facilities that will still accept cash are:
Alligator Alley (I-75)
Beachline West (SR 528)
Mid-Bay Bridge (SR 293)
Garcon Point Bridge (SR 281)
Sunshine Skyway (I-275)

I've been on the Beachline Expressway, and the Sunshine Skyway. I hope to return to them again someday, and I'd like to try Alligator Alley within my lifetime.

When I drove back from my Florida's Turnpike Rest Area photography crusade earlier this year, I took I-95 up to the Beachline Expressway, and I took that back to the Turnpike so I could catch SR 50 back home. While I was on the Beachline, I drove up to the westbound cash toll plaza just to see if my transponder was working. I ended up sitting behind some guy who was paying entirely in pennies. Then when this person was done, the clerk told me I had a transponder and that I should just go, and should've stayed in the electronic toll lanes.

Also, on the CFX's website, it states this:

"Texas TollTag, Kansas K-TAG and Oklahoma PIKEPASS toll passes are accepted in Florida on Florida Turnpike Enterprise and FDOT-owned expressways.

Never been to either of those states, but it's nice to know they're being accepted here. I just wish SunPass Pro gave motorists the option to enter more systems besides E-Z Pass.


I've brought up Boulogne, Florida before, and recently I discovered some old pictures of the place taken by the late John Margolies. More specifically, it involves the "White City Motor Court" and gas station (sounds like a product from the days of Jim Crow, doesn't it?);


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_City_Gas,_Boulogne,_Florida_LCCN2017707301.tif

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_City_Motor_Court,_Boulogne,_Florida_LCCN2017709945.tif

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_City_Motor_Court,_Boulogne,_Florida_LCCN2017709946.tif

Was this located where the "Two Moon Junction" gas station and convenience store is now?

[NE2]

Seems like a bunch of F-suffix and S-suffix state roads have been re-numbered in Districts 6 and 7. A few 25F routes are now 929, 939, and a few others. There is also 918, 923, 928, 949, 979, and 988 nearby. In D7, that goofy-ahh 93F pair at CR-41 with the gate is now split into 534 and 537. Another 93F at SR-50 is now 411. 50F just down the road is 432, and the old off-ramp to US-98 is now 571, part of which doesn't even have a roadbed. 35F south of where US-98 and US-301 meet is now 545. 400F near Lakeland is split into 558, 560, 562, and 564. There are some more examples out there but these are just a few.

I've listed all I could find in the SLDs on https://wiki.aaroads.com/wiki/Talk:List_of_state_roads_in_Florida#New_frontage_road_numbers_2023-2025 . Most of these renumberings are not yet reflected in the SLDs.

[Stephane Dumas]

Interesting to note then FLDOT marked FL-91 on the road since FL-91 is FL Turnpike secret number. https://maps.app.goo.gl/cu87KeC9jonY9gGk8

[The Ghostbuster]

Are there any other locations where the "secret" FL 91 exists along the original segment of the Florida's Turnpike? Personally, I think the FL 821 and FL 91 designations should be signposted along the entire duration of the Florida's Turnpike.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.clickorlando.com/traffic/2025/07/28/state-road-417-to-phase-out-cash-payments-as-part-of-a-cashless-toll-transition/

SR 417 is the next CFX toll road to go cashless, last day to pay cash is August 19th.

[The Ghostbuster]

Another phase of Interstate 275's new Express Lanes is starting: Expansion begins for stretch of I-275 near Howard Frankland. Since the website is paywalled, here is the text in full (got this from Bing):

Construction has begun on an expansion of Interstate 275 in Pinellas County from Fourth Street North, near the Howard Frankland Bridge, to the 38th Avenue exit in St. Petersburg, Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday.

The 7.5-mile stretch is expected to gain tolled express lanes that will eventually connect to the four express lanes scheduled to open next spring on the Howard Frankland Bridge.

From Fourth Street North to the Gandy Bridge exit, the state transportation department plans to add one express lane on northbound I-275. The southbound side already has a single express lane.

From south of the Gandy Bridge exit to the 38th Avenue exit, crews will add four express lanes, two in each direction. That slice of I-275 is frequently snarled during morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic.

Pedestrians and cyclists are also slated to gain a 12-foot-wide pathway along the north side of Ulmerton Road, from Fountain Parkway North to west of I-275.

The $340 million project doesn't have a projected end date yet. It's part of a broader effort, known as Tampa Bay Next, to relieve congestion in Tampa Bay by adding express lanes along portions of I-275.

The Gateway Expressway, which opened last year, and the new Howard Frankland Bridge are other components of that effort.

The extension of express lanes into Pinellas County may start to make Tampa Bay look more like Orlando or Miami, where drivers have long used tolled lanes to bypass traffic along major throughways like I-4 and Interstate 95.

Other highway widening projects currently under construction in Tampa Bay focus on relieving congestion at clogged exits.

Take Tampa's downtown interchange, where I-275 and Interstate 4 connect, sometimes called "malfunction junction." Construction for a widening project involving that interchange is scheduled to wrap up in early 2027, giving drivers another lane between westbound I-4 and both directions of I-275, as well as between southbound I-275 and eastbound I-4.

Crews are also widening Tampa's Westshore interchange, which takes drivers from I-275 to the airport, Veterans Expressway and State Road 60.

[rickmastfan67]

So, it seems like FDOT is working on signing FL-228 along the Hart Expressway for the first time ever.

All signs @ University Blvd (FL-109) have been swapped out, and now have FL-228 shields on them.

WB FL-228 - EB FL-228.

They installed this signage between Apr '24 & Feb '25!

[D-Dey65]

Another railroad history question. The Wikipedia article on Davenport, Florida has this one line about the old ACL Main Line, now the CSX Carters Subdivision;

"From 1958 to 1986 there was a second station, the Vertagreen Railroad Station, opened only for the transportation of fertilizer and not for public use"

So where was this? North of the existing ACL Depot, or south of it? And how close was it to the Holly Hill Fruit Factory?

Oh. does anyone else know that US 301 is currently being widened between US 98 in Trilacoochee and SR 50 in Ridge Manor?

[Alex]

Oh. does anyone else know that US 301 is currently being widened between US 98 in Trilacoochee and SR 50 in Ridge Manor?

The expansion also includes converting the intersection with SR 575 / Trilby Road to a roundabout. SR 575 is slated to be decommissioned in the near future as well.

[D-Dey65]

Oh. does anyone else know that US 301 is currently being widened between US 98 in Trilacoochee and SR 50 in Ridge Manor?

The expansion also includes converting the intersection with SR 575 / Trilby Road to a roundabout. SR 575 is slated to be decommissioned in the near future as well.

The decommissioning of SR 575 sucks. They should have expanded it to US 98 and to SR 50. The only good part about it is they're at least getting rid of the abrupt termini of the state road.

[Great Lakes Roads]

The following tolling facilities that will still accept cash are:
Alligator Alley (I-75)
Beachline West (SR 528)
Mid-Bay Bridge (SR 293)
Garcon Point Bridge (SR 281)
Sunshine Skyway (I-275)

I just found out in a paywalled article that the Garcon Point Bridge will be transitioning towards cashless tolling soon.

EDIT- Looks like it will be by the end of this month (September 28th).

https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/santa-rosa/2025/09/08/garcon-point-bridge-toll-plaza-being-replaced-with-cameras/85963819007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113612p000350c000350e000300v113612b0036xxd003665&gca-ft=34&gca-ds=sophi

[D-Dey65]

I already mentioned this on the "Random Thoughts" board, but two of these "Wrong Way" signs are unnecessary. That's on the northbound entrance ramp to the Canoe Creek Service Plaza on Florida's Turnpike, just in case you're wondering.

And I still haven't had any of my questions answered about the Vertagreen Railroad Station, in Davenport.

[D-Dey65]

Here's something else; I recently saw a news article online about a proposed widening project of US 231 in Bay County. I don't remember the TV station that owned that website, but the reporter sounded like she was around 15 or something like that.

[formulanone]

Here's something else; I recently saw a news article online about a proposed widening project of US 231 in Bay County. I don't remember the TV station that owned that website, but the reporter sounded like she was around 15 or something like that.

https://nwflroads.com/projects/217910-3

https://www.newsherald.com/story/news/local/2025/09/07/fdot-levels-building-near-panama-city-mall-for-future-retention-pond/85977785007/

That's the first time I've heard of a Starbucks being demolished.

[ElishaGOtis]

I already mentioned this on the "Random Thoughts" board, but two of these "Wrong Way" signs are unnecessary. That's on the northbound entrance ramp to the Canoe Creek Service Plaza on Florida's Turnpike, just in case you're wondering.

And I still haven't had any of my questions answered about the Vertagreen Railroad Station, in Davenport.

The shorter wrong way signs likely hadn't yet been removed as of the street view image, as the taller of those signs were installed for wrong-way driving detection (meant to replace the other).

[NE2]

And I still haven't had any of my questions answered about the Vertagreen Railroad Station, in Davenport.

I'd give you a cookie, but I ate them all.

[D-Dey65]

Really? Is it within walking distance of this marker?


There's still the issue of the complete route of the FL 44 DeLand Truck Route.

[freebrickproductions]

Really? Is it within walking distance of this marker?


There's still the issue of the complete route of the FL 44 DeLand Truck Route.

That's an old whistle post. The pattern indicates the length of the blasts of the whistle/horn train crews are required to blow on approach to the crossing. Modern whistle posts just use a sign with the letter W.

[D-Dey65]

That's an old whistle post. The pattern indicates the length of the blasts of the whistle/horn train crews are required to blow on approach to the crossing. Modern whistle posts just use a sign with the letter W.

I know. I was just wondering how long of a distance the other station was from the site of that whistle post. I was hoping to add the links to my post for the location, but I've got close to two dozen browsers open on my PC. It kind of delays any effort to edit things. 
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marker_for_Whistles;_Carters_Subdivision;_Davenport,_FL.jpg

Is this better?

[D-Dey65]

New Davenport discovery - State Street looks like a failed attempt to realign the south end of Lee-Jackson Highway away from the Bay Street railroad crossing of the CSX Carters Subdivision. It's too bad they turned that street into a dead end at North Boulevard West. If they want SunRail to extend into Polk County, they'll need a second track, and they'll have to revive that proposal to realign that portion of Polk CR 547 onto State Street.

[D-Dey65]

Wow, three Florida messages in a row. Somebody else had better post their own.

I went to Zephyrhills today, and much to my shock, I found out that Florida SR 54 no longer exists east of SR 56. It's all multiple Pasco CR 54's now with no other distinction between these routes. WTF is the world coming to?!


I also checked out Google Street View of the area surrounding the Wildwood Subdivision between Zephyrhills and Dade City, and lo and behold, I spotted what looks like a new highway being built between US 98 and Pasco CR 52A. This must be some project I missed. Is this going to be an extension of FL 52, or a realignment of US 98? And if it's the latter, what's supposed to happen to the old US 98 between there and the new one and US 301?

UPDATE; October 3, 2025; Okay, I just discovered the answer to the some of these questions.
https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/885/443368-3-52-01

[FLRoads]

Wow, three Florida messages in a row. Somebody else had better post their own.

I went to Zephyrhills today, and much to my shock, I found out that Florida SR 54 no longer exists east of SR 56. It's all multiple Pasco CR 54's now with no other distinction between these routes. WTF is the world coming to?!


I also checked out Google Street View of the area surrounding the Wildwood Subdivision between Zephyrhills and Dade City, and lo and behold, I spotted what looks like a new highway being built between US 98 and Pasco CR 52A. This must be some project I missed. Is this going to be an extension of FL 52, or a realignment of US 98? And if it's the latter, what's supposed to happen to the old US 98 between there and the new one and US 301?

UPDATE; October 3, 2025; Okay, I just discovered the answer to the some of these questions.
https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/885/443368-3-52-01

Regarding SR 54, the remaining FDOT maintained portion along with SR 581, is in the process of being transferred to Pasco County. A roadway transfer agreement was signed earlier this year, with transfer becoming official once I get the Right of Way Maps on record sent to the County for recording. Handling of Roadway transfers are part of my many duties at FDOT.

After your post decided to drive both portions to see what signage had changed. SR 581 is still acknowledged with three sets of JCT assemblies for CR 54 along northbound, over a span of a mile or so. I saw only one SR 54 East assembly and that was after SR 581. All the others east/westbound have been switched over to CR 54, including the one where it ties into the now defunct Zephyrhills Bypass. So they completely replaced that assembly to show that CR 54 travels east on the bypass when its just now a road into a development...

And for U.S. 98, it is being realigned along a new segment connecting the current alignment with Clinton Avenue (CR 52A) which ties into U.S. 301 opposite SR 52. This is also one of the projects I managed for the Survey section. U.S. 98 is being widened to four lanes with a few roundabouts at key locations. The realignment has already been submitted and approved by AASHTO (Spring 2025 meeting). The former location of U.S. 98 will be transferred over to Pasco County while the portion of CR 52A where U.S. 98 will overlay will be transferred to FDOT. That will leave the remaining part of CR 52A as disconnected to SR 52, so not sure what the County will do about that (my guess is nothing). Not sure what the County will number the old portion of U.S. 98 either...

[Great Lakes Roads]

Will a toll road overpass fix Bradenton traffic? FDOT says it's possible