Florida

[ElishaGOtis]

Is the SR 100 bridge over the Wildwood Subdivision in Starke finished being built yet?

Yes, including some roundabouts below the bridge.

[roadman65]

Did FDOT really relocate hidden SR 35 to the Lakeland In-Town Bypass west of North Florida Avenue, instead of east along US 98, or is that just another Google Maps Error?
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.0483043,-81.9649932,3925m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&entry=ttu

It's an error. That part is ( and currently signed) SR 548.

[D-Dey65]

Did FDOT really relocate hidden SR 35 to the Lakeland In-Town Bypass west of North Florida Avenue, instead of east along US 98, or is that just another Google Maps Error?
https://www.google.com/maps/@28.0483043,-81.9649932,3925m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&entry=ttu

It's an error. That part is ( and currently signed) SR 548.

I thought so. I knew it was signed 548 already though. Time to correct Google Maps.

Is the SR 100 bridge over the Wildwood Subdivision in Starke finished being built yet?

Yes, including some roundabouts below the bridge.

Good to know. When was it finished? I can't find any articles about the completion online.

[1995hoo]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

Once we emerged from the Everglades and I connected back to I-75 via Collier Boulevard, the rest of the (mercifully short) distance to Fort Myers was torture. Wound up having to exit at Corkscrew Road because of heavy traffic, and then one of the traffic lights near FGCU wasn't working and I found that Florida drivers handle that situation about as "well" as I expected.

[roadman65]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

Once we emerged from the Everglades and I connected back to I-75 via Collier Boulevard, the rest of the (mercifully short) distance to Fort Myers was torture. Wound up having to exit at Corkscrew Road because of heavy traffic, and then one of the traffic lights near FGCU wasn't working and I found that Florida drivers handle that situation about as "well" as I expected.

US 41 isn't bad at all. Just the 55 mph speed in FDOT D-6 because that's the only rural road in the district. Engineers are used to suburban arterials so 60 mph ain't an option to them.

It is more scenic, though, than I-75 IMO. Plus plenty of stops you can make over the interstate.

[1995hoo]

Does anyone know how long I should expect it to take for Greater Miami Expressway Agency tolls to post to my E-ZPass account? On Sunday we went to a restaurant in North Miami (an excellent restaurant, BTW—Battubelin on 79th Street) and on the way down, I used Gratigny Parkway (FL-924), which has two toll gantries. Those tolls haven't posted yet. On the way back, I used the Turnpike instead and that toll posted within 24 hours. Just wondering whether I should be expecting Hertz to sock me with a surcharge or whether that particular toll agency is just slow.

[Sani]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

I wonder if by "dangerous" he meant that the risk of a head-on collision is higher on US 41 because it's a two-lane road. I think most of Alligator Alley has cable barriers in the median, but don't hold me to that. (Correcting myself as I type this comment: FDOT installed cable barriers along the sides of Alligator Alley to keep cars from ending up overturned in the canals and swamps that run alongside the roadway, but as far as I can tell from my Google searches and looking at Street View, there are no barriers installed in the median except for guardrails on the approaches to bridges.)

[formulanone]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

I wonder if by "dangerous" he meant that the risk of a head-on collision is higher on US 41 because it's a two-lane road. I think most of Alligator Alley has cable barriers in the median, but don't hold me to that. (Correcting myself as I type this comment: FDOT installed cable barriers along the sides of Alligator Alley to keep cars from ending up overturned in the canals and swamps that run alongside the roadway, but as far as I can tell from my Google searches and looking at Street View, there are no barriers installed in the median except for guardrails on the approaches to bridges.)

I recall Alligator Alley's median is typically very swampy with storm water collection during much of the spring/summer months. Not unusual for vehicles to get stranded in the muck. On the other hand, it slows down errant vehicles.

[roadman65]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50439187143_66878e7d3b_4k_d.jpg
One great way of showing one highway ends to become another. Too bad other places around the Sunshine State don't do this.

[RoadPelican]

Speaking of Interstate alternatives, going from Vero Beach to Orlando, I like to use SR 60 (4 lane-no traffic) 65 MPH to Yeehaw Junction and then instead of taking the turnpike get on US 441 North to Holopaw. This 35 mile stretch of US 441 is only 2 lanes, but very lighted traveled with a 60 MPH.

Then turn left on US 192 (4 lane-light traffic) 65 MPH. Only one traffic light between Holopaw and St. Cloud.

After that, your in the typical 6 lane traffic light infested boulevards of Suburban Orlando.

[emory]

More "F" routes found in Duval County.

SR 15F (72030116, 72030115) - US 17 frontage roads that intersect Edgewood Avenue.
SR 102F (72003064, 72003065) - CLipper Service Rd and Dixie Service Rd.
SR 115F (72040117, 72040332, 72040131, 72040338, 72040337, 72090164, 72090161, 72090154, 72090350)- These flank various portions of Southside and the Arlington Expwy.

[ElishaGOtis]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

I wonder if by "dangerous" he meant that the risk of a head-on collision is higher on US 41 because it's a two-lane road. I think most of Alligator Alley has cable barriers in the median, but don't hold me to that. (Correcting myself as I type this comment: FDOT installed cable barriers along the sides of Alligator Alley to keep cars from ending up overturned in the canals and swamps that run alongside the roadway, but as far as I can tell from my Google searches and looking at Street View, there are no barriers installed in the median except for guardrails on the approaches to bridges.)

Maybe speaking of the risk of colliding with animals?

Regardless,

I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75.

I don't blame you, as even the DMS's will admit this is the case. I saw one for I-75 NB that suggested it would take 22-25 minutes to travel 29 miles to the Collier County Line.

[sprjus4]

We took US-41 west from Broward County across the state yesterday because we weren't in a hurry and I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75. I have to say it was a very pleasant way to go, especially once we got past Shark Valley, because there was almost nobody on the road. I passed a clump of three slow-moving cars somewhere near Shark Valley and one other car sometime later, but other than that, once we passed Shark Valley I had the cruise control set at 65 mph and I seldom had to do anything. I would absolutely go that way again if I'm not in a hurry. My brother-in-law thinks I'm nuts, told me I went the wrong way and that US-41 is dangerous (but he didn't have a reason why).
I think he doesn't understand simply wanting to use a different road I had never used before.

I wonder if by "dangerous" he meant that the risk of a head-on collision is higher on US 41 because it's a two-lane road. I think most of Alligator Alley has cable barriers in the median, but don't hold me to that. (Correcting myself as I type this comment: FDOT installed cable barriers along the sides of Alligator Alley to keep cars from ending up overturned in the canals and swamps that run alongside the roadway, but as far as I can tell from my Google searches and looking at Street View, there are no barriers installed in the median except for guardrails on the approaches to bridges.)

Maybe speaking of the risk of colliding with animals?

Regardless,

I just didn't feel like dealing with the aggressive drivers on I-75.

I don't blame you, as even the DMS's will admit this is the case. I saw one for I-75 NB that suggested it would take 22-25 minutes to travel 29 miles to the Collier County Line.

25 minutes to go 29 miles is 70 mph
22 minutes to go 29 miles is 79 mph

I wouldn't say 70-79 mph is a sign of aggressive driving alone, given the speed limit is 70 mph.

Not saying aggressive driving isn't an issue, but that statistic alone doesn't say much. I-75 is a long straight away for dozens of miles, those seem like typical speeds given conditions.

[Max Rockatansky]

Next time try to the Everglades Loop Road.  Definitely not "dangerous" but you'll probably see at least one alligator in the middle of the dirt part.

 

[Rothman]

Or just walk along the short Anhinga Trail...

[Max Rockatansky]

A brother-in-law who is afraid of Tamiami Trail isn't going for a hike in the Everglades.  At least having them in the car while you're driving makes them a captive audience.

Speaking of hiking the Snake Bight Trail is an old road.  Likewise the trail is the Ernest Coe Campground is the Old Ingraham Highway.

[1995hoo]

A brother-in-law who is afraid of Tamiami Trail isn't going for a hike in the Everglades.  At least having them in the car while you're driving makes them a captive audience.

Speaking of hiking the Snake Bight Trail is an old road.  Likewise the trail is the Ernest Coe Campground is the Old Ingraham Highway.

No, he wasn't in the car with us. We visited my brother-in-law's family for the first couple of days to see his daughter graduate from high school. Then we headed to Fort Myers to visit a different set of relatives; he and his family did not accompany us, although his wife and daughter did travel separately to Fort Myers the following day for the daughter's orientation at FGCU. When I said he claimed I went the wrong way I meant he said that afterwards when we talked to him.

I was definitely aware of the Loop Road, but it didn't fit into the timing on this trip. Maybe next time if I think my wife will tolerate it. Not sure she will.

[Max Rockatansky]

Usually I just don't tell my wife until we are already on like roads. 

[xp4eternity]

So it seems that MDX had something different in mind with the SR 836 when they were constructing the gantrys between SR 985 and 97th Ave in the 2000s. Look at the dark black. It seems that MDX had planned to have the cash and SR 985 North vehicles enter and exit further away from the final spot which was near the 97th Ave bridge. Eastbound would had the opportunity to exit onto SR 973 from the cash lanes instead of mainline. Looking closer, the mainline entrance was right by the SR 973 exit which would had meant either relocating the SR 973 exit to be a little further east or had them exit onto the cash lanes. Westbound is a bit of a weird one. Issue is that there are 2 entrances and there close to where the SR 973, 12th St, and SR 826 South people merge. Idk what MDX had in mind for the westbound cash people. My guess: Force SR 973, 12th St, and 826 South people onto the cash lanes and force them to use 12th st to go to SR 825 Sunpass or not and mainline cash and SR 985 North people use the outer exit.

Also, I cant seem to attach an image from my computer so I have uploaded it via Google drive.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w89GlU9w8BktfDqOfNLI6N69_rqAEg4N/view?usp=sharing

[D-Dey65]

Remember that incident in 1993 where those British tourists were killed at one of the Jefferson County rest areas on I-10? Was that in the eastbound rest area or the westbound rest area? Because I've been to the eastbound one.

[D-Dey65]

Has everybody noticed that at every interchange signs along Interstate 75 in Ocala the control cities are always Ocala and Silver Springs, even though drivers are already in Ocala? These should be changed. I recommend the following;


EXIT 350 (Northbound)
FLORIDA STATE ROAD 200
OCALA
HERNANDO

EXIT 350 (Southbound)
FLORIDA STATE ROAD 200
MARION OAKS
HERNANDO

EXIT 352
FLORIDA STATE ROAD 40
RAINBOW LAKE ESTATES
SILVER SPRINGS

EXIT 354
U.S. ROUTE 27
WILLISTON
SILVER SPRINGS

I left Ocala alone for northbound I-75 at Exit 350 because FL 200 ends as an independent route in Ocala. Even though it becomes one again in Callahan, I'm not going to add that or Yulee or Fernandina Beach.

And US 27 doesn't go to Silver Springs, but you can get there if you continue east onto FL 492, so I left it there for Exit 354.

[VTGoose]

[catching up after a lot of travel]

The last several trips over the past year from the mountains to the bay to visit the kids in St. Petersburg, we have been stopping at Buc-ee's at St. Augustine (the kids like their jerky). From there we make our way to Palatka and FL 20 to Hawthorne and on. On a return trip with a stop at Buc-ee's, the GPS sent us up U.S. 17 instead of continuing east to hit I-95. This was actually a better route with less traffic and it brought us in the back way instead of off I-95. At any rate . . .

There is a major highway under construction along FL 16 from FL 13 to the St. John's River and around the airport and industrial park. There is an interchange with U.S. 17 south and the new road continues to the northwest. Google shows the new road but it seems to end in the middle of nowhere. Is there a rational for this road? Will it continue to the east? It just seems to be in an odd location.

Bruce in Blacksburg

[74/171FAN]

[catching up after a lot of travel]

The last several trips over the past year from the mountains to the bay to visit the kids in St. Petersburg, we have been stopping at Buc-ee's at St. Augustine (the kids like their jerky). From there we make our way to Palatka and FL 20 to Hawthorne and on. On a return trip with a stop at Buc-ee's, the GPS sent us up U.S. 17 instead of continuing east to hit I-95. This was actually a better route with less traffic and it brought us in the back way instead of off I-95. At any rate . . .

There is a major highway under construction along FL 16 from FL 13 to the St. John's River and around the airport and industrial park. There is an interchange with U.S. 17 south and the new road continues to the northwest. Google shows the new road but it seems to end in the middle of nowhere. Is there a rational for this road? Will it continue to the east? It just seems to be in an odd location.

Bruce in Blacksburg

I am about 98% sure you are referring to FL 23 (First Coast Expressway).

[SilverMustang2011]

[catching up after a lot of travel]

The last several trips over the past year from the mountains to the bay to visit the kids in St. Petersburg, we have been stopping at Buc-ee's at St. Augustine (the kids like their jerky). From there we make our way to Palatka and FL 20 to Hawthorne and on. On a return trip with a stop at Buc-ee's, the GPS sent us up U.S. 17 instead of continuing east to hit I-95. This was actually a better route with less traffic and it brought us in the back way instead of off I-95. At any rate . . .

There is a major highway under construction along FL 16 from FL 13 to the St. John's River and around the airport and industrial park. There is an interchange with U.S. 17 south and the new road continues to the northwest. Google shows the new road but it seems to end in the middle of nowhere. Is there a rational for this road? Will it continue to the east? It just seems to be in an odd location.

Bruce in Blacksburg

Like what 74/171FAN said, it's the First Coast Expressway (SR 23). If it's complete on schedule in the next ten or so years, it will go across the St Johns River and connect to I-95, providing a tolled outer beltway-ish connection between I-10 and I-95. It's not as obvious by US-17, but the areas in St Johns County that the expressway will travel through, and in Clay County where it currently terminates at SR 21, have seen a lot of sprawl; some induced, some not. The goal of the expressway is to alleviate congestion on local roads by giving the new communities an express route to town, as well as providing another link for regional traffic between I-10 and I-95. We'll see how well it works.

[1995hoo]

If you have an iOS device, try viewing that area in Apple Maps using satellite view. It has a more up-to-date image than Google does and you can quite clearly see the full path of the construction from just west of the river where the golf course used to be all the way up to the existing highway.