Florida

[SilverMustang2011]

It was rare for me to use I-75 for local trips when I lived in Gainesville, but I also lived several miles away from its exits.

I just finished up my time at UF and I used I-75 for local trips maybe 5-10 times in 5 years. It's not a great local route for most traffic because of the growth of Gainesville west of I-75 and not north or south, and most major retail/entertainment destinations of Gainesville being off Archer Rd (SR 24) or Downtown.

[Sani]

Does anyone have updated photos of the BGSes on the approach to the Sanibel Causeway? the last Street View shots are from 2022, but you can just make out a newer BGS from a 2023 photo at McGregor and Shell Point.

[D-Dey65]

US 17 is pretty nice from Palatka to Green Cove Springs, 4 lanes, rural, 60 MPH Speed Limit.
After Green Cove Springs, you start getting into the sprawl of Jacksonville (Orange Park)

US 301 is also great from Baldwin to Callahan, 4 lanes, rural, 65 MPH Speed Limit.

You're right, they are nice drives. Granted, when I've taken US 17 in that segment, I've tended to go faster, but your description of the surroundings is spot on. The same goes for US 301 from Baldwin to Callahan, but you have to take the Baldwin Bypass for the four-lane 65 MPH speed limit. Admittedly, I still would've liked to have seen an interchange with US 90, and a split off the off-ramp from I-10 between "Business" US 301 and "Bypass" US 301. You'll also pass by the Cary State Forest and a State Forest Ranger station on that part of US 301.

Heh, now that is a statement I never thought I would see. 

Well, he is telling the truth. The last time I was there though, I took a detour southbound on the two-lane section of US 301. I wanted some shots of the old ACL bridge over what is today the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, as well as Baldwin Junction, and possibly some scenes of the overlap of US 90 and 301. Not every shot turned out as good as I hoped it would be, sadly.

[ElishaGOtis]

CLEARVIEW?!

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/new-state-line-signs-welcome-drivers-to-free-state-of-florida/

I saw a bunch of these new welcome signs get put up at the state lines, present in both directions. I am completely shocked to see FDOT-other-than-Turnpike use what appears to be Clearview on a set of signs LOL.  

[vdeane]

So... they got rid of the nice gateway monuments in favor of signage that looks like what was there before (leaving politics aside)?  Yuck.

[NJRoadfan]

I'm sure the gateway signs on I-95 and other major crossings are still there. These signs were posted in addition to those, and also at the welcome centers for photo ops.

[roadman65]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54480415@N08/52138741710
Considering the Governor names is on the county line sign I don't think so for I-10.

The gateway sign is separate here.

[ElishaGOtis]

So... they got rid of the nice gateway monuments in favor of signage that looks like what was there before (leaving politics aside)?  Yuck.

Thankfully, this did not happen.

I'm sure the gateway signs on I-95 and other major crossings are still there. These signs were posted in addition to those, and also at the welcome centers for photo ops.

Correct. Effectively, the new signs compliment the gateways.

[D-Dey65]

CLEARVIEW?!

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/new-state-line-signs-welcome-drivers-to-free-state-of-florida/

I saw a bunch of these new welcome signs get put up at the state lines, present in both directions. I am completely shocked to see FDOT-other-than-Turnpike use what appears to be Clearview on a set of signs LOL.  

Where was this old welcome center used in that article?

[D-Dey65]

Just another reason for me to hate life:
https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-county/documentary-to-detail-removal-of-fantasy-of-flight-plane-seen-for-decades-on-i-4/
I'm glad I posted pictures of the plane before it was torn down.

[Jaxrunner]

Funding is finally available to start work next year on the Beulah Road interchange with Interstate 10 in Escambia County. There is a lot of growth in that part of the county. The next interchange will help the area grow. There is also going to be a lot of construction happening on I 10 between the Alabama line and I 110. Work on the US 29 and Alt 90 interchanges is ongoing. In addition I 10 is slated for widening as well.

Maybe one day I 10 will be at least six lanes from Mobile to Pensacola."

http://www.northescambia.com/2024/07/state-funding-240-million-beulah-interchange

[D-Dey65]

Is there a list showing when each former state road in Florida was downgraded to a county road? Too many official FDOT pages keep shutting down.

[Plutonic Panda]

Am I using the right Florida Department of transportation page to search for projects? Because their website really is not that great.

[SilverMustang2011]

Am I using the right Florida Department of transportation page to search for projects? Because their website really is not that great.

FDOT is split into districts so you may need to look for one of those sites to get project info. Here's a couple examples that I look at from time to time:

- NE Florida: https://nflroads.com/
- West Central Florida: https://www.fdottampabay.com/projects/all
- NW Florida: https://nwflroads.com/
- Turnpike Stuff: https://floridasturnpike.com/turnpike-projects/

[D-Dey65]

I just found confirmation on a project I've been wondering about, since I drove to Folkston, Georgia by way of FL-GA 121 back in February;
https://nflroads.com/ProjectDetails.aspx?p=5599

Westbound I-10 at Exit 355 will be split between a northbound and southbound off-ramp.

I also learned of a proposal to widen US 301 from Thonotosassa to Zephyrhills.
https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/987/255796-1

[Halian]

https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/new-state-line-signs-welcome-drivers-to-free-state-of-florida/

Vom. And not because of Clearview.

I much prefer the gateway signs.

[D-Dey65]

Evidently Turnpike Doubles are allowed on Florida's Turnpike;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfml0cjxwyo

[kernals12]

2 things

A. Is the very wide median on 275 and 4 through Tampa there for future widening?

B. Florida's obsession with toll roads has deprived us of an Interstate 404.

[ElishaGOtis]

2 things

A. Is the very wide median on 275 and 4 through Tampa there for future widening?

That (with the intent to put express lanes eventually) and the possibility for transit.

B. Florida's obsession with toll roads has deprived us of an Interstate 404.

ISHTA & OTA: but has it tho? 

I asked someone with connections to FDOT about this informally, and apparently their reasoning is since Florida is growing so fast, the process for adding a new interchange for an interstate highway would be tedious compared to a simple SR expressway. Any new interchange would need federal approval, which takes time and money...

Emphasis on apparently, this is not an official confirmation.

[kernals12]

2 things

A. Is the very wide median on 275 and 4 through Tampa there for future widening?

That (with the intent to put express lanes eventually) and the possibility for transit.

B. Florida's obsession with toll roads has deprived us of an Interstate 404.

ISHTA & OTA: but has it tho? 

I asked someone with connections to FDOT about this informally, and apparently their reasoning is since Florida is growing so fast, the process for adding a new interchange for an interstate highway would be tedious compared to a simple SR expressway. Any new interchange would need federal approval, which takes time and money...

Emphasis on apparently, this is not an official confirmation.

Americans have been unjustly swindled out of so many funny interstate designations. Atlanta was supposed to get an Interstate 420 but then the extension of the Arthur Langford Parkway to I-20 was cancelled. And I think most people would agree if the Capital Beltway was renumbered as 666. At least they're finishing up Interstate 69, which is nice.

[ElishaGOtis]

2 things

A. Is the very wide median on 275 and 4 through Tampa there for future widening?

That (with the intent to put express lanes eventually) and the possibility for transit.

B. Florida's obsession with toll roads has deprived us of an Interstate 404.

ISHTA & OTA: but has it tho? 

I asked someone with connections to FDOT about this informally, and apparently their reasoning is since Florida is growing so fast, the process for adding a new interchange for an interstate highway would be tedious compared to a simple SR expressway. Any new interchange would need federal approval, which takes time and money...

Emphasis on apparently, this is not an official confirmation.

Americans have been unjustly swindled out of so many funny interstate designations. Atlanta was supposed to get an Interstate 420 but then the extension of the Arthur Langford Parkway to I-20 was cancelled. And I think most people would agree if the Capital Beltway was renumbered as 666. At least they're finishing up Interstate 69, which is nice.

Such signs would be stolen at such a rate that the cost of replacing said signs would be more than construction of the entire roadway. /s

Maybe not for 404 unless "error 404 page missing" becomes a meme again (not just a dad joke), but definitely for a number like 420 or 666. Florida had this issue with mile marker 420 on I-75, so per the legend, it was actually replaced with a 419.9 sign

[Max Rockatansky]

FL 666 sign theft is deterred by the fact that it is in a wealthy and not really interesting urban area. Lots of snowbird types would the chance to ruin a young ruffian's day if they caught them trying to take a sign. 

666FLa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

[kernals12]

2 things

A. Is the very wide median on 275 and 4 through Tampa there for future widening?

That (with the intent to put express lanes eventually) and the possibility for transit.

B. Florida's obsession with toll roads has deprived us of an Interstate 404.

ISHTA & OTA: but has it tho? 

I asked someone with connections to FDOT about this informally, and apparently their reasoning is since Florida is growing so fast, the process for adding a new interchange for an interstate highway would be tedious compared to a simple SR expressway. Any new interchange would need federal approval, which takes time and money...

Emphasis on apparently, this is not an official confirmation.

Americans have been unjustly swindled out of so many funny interstate designations. Atlanta was supposed to get an Interstate 420 but then the extension of the Arthur Langford Parkway to I-20 was cancelled. And I think most people would agree if the Capital Beltway was renumbered as 666. At least they're finishing up Interstate 69, which is nice.

Such signs would be stolen at such a rate that the cost of replacing said signs would be more than construction of the entire roadway. /s

Maybe not for 404 unless "error 404 page missing" becomes a meme again (not just a dad joke), but definitely for a number like 420 or 666. Florida had this issue with mile marker 420 on I-75, so per the legend, it was actually replaced with a 419.9 sign

I was not aware Error 404 ever stopped being a meme.

And you just know there would be a headline "Florida Man steals 15 Interstate 404 signs while high on meth and travelling on a unicycle"

[Plutonic Panda]

FL 666 sign theft is deterred by the fact that it is in a wealthy and not really interesting urban area. Lots of snowbird types would the chance to ruin a young ruffian's day if they caught them trying to take a sign. 

666FLa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

Put on a hardhat vest and drive a white pick up truck. I'm sure nobody would bad and eye unless it was a police officer driving by.

[Max Rockatansky]

FL 666 sign theft is deterred by the fact that it is in a wealthy and not really interesting urban area. Lots of snowbird types would the chance to ruin a young ruffian's day if they caught them trying to take a sign. 

666FLa by Max Rockatansky, on Flickr

Put on a hardhat vest and drive a white pick up truck. I'm sure nobody would bad and eye unless it was a police officer driving by.

Eh, most wouldn't have the nerve to chance it.  Paranoia alone is a deterrent, eight mounting bolts is another.  There is a reason you don't see much FDOT stuff on the second hand market.