Florida

[Sani]

If you look on page 5 of this PDF, you can see the ideas they had for the stub ramps to connect to future express lanes. Of course, FDOT is not the best at making use of stub ramps. There were stub ramps at the interchange between FL 589 and FL 60 for decades before they ended up tearing them down and rebuilding the interchange in an entirely different way. And there are stubs for ramps built when I-275 was rebuilt west of downtown that haven't been integrated into any expansion or express lane plans.

[Alex]

This may have been addressed earlier, but does anyone know why there are stub ramps along the northern end of the Interstate 4/FL 618 connector?: https://www.google.com/maps/@27.9638876,-82.4272252,598m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTEyMy4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D. The connector wasn't planned on being extended further north, was it?

Given the alignment of a couple of those stubs, I wonder if it was meant to provide ramps between the connector and FL 585? There don't seem to be any stubs on the east side of the interchange either.

Future Express Lanes IIRC

The current ramps connecting the Selmon Connector with I-4 were intended to be those for the planned Express Lanes. The stubs were for the planned ramps joining the toll road with the I-4 general travel lanes.

Those plans were dropped and AFAIK the current configuration is the final configuration.

[D-Dey65]

New topic; What are these things along Polk County Road 17A northeast of Lake Wales? I found them while exploring the right-of-way for a former railroad spur off of the ACL Haines City Branch at Mountain Lakes.

And there are stubs for ramps built when I-275 was rebuilt west of downtown that haven't been integrated into any expansion or express lane plans.

There are only two reasons I can think of for those stubs; 1)A half-diamond interchange with North Boulevard, and 2)An extension of the frontage roads leading to the downtown exits.

[Max Rockatansky]

Irrigation control boxes?

[ElishaGOtis]

New topic; What are these things along Polk County Road 17A northeast of Lake Wales? I found them while exploring the right-of-way for a former railroad spur off of the ACL Haines City Branch at Mountain Lakes.

And there are stubs for ramps built when I-275 was rebuilt west of downtown that haven't been integrated into any expansion or express lane plans.

There are only two reasons I can think of for those stubs; 1)A half-diamond interchange with North Boulevard, and 2)An extension of the frontage roads leading to the downtown exits.

https://www.sunbeltrentals.com/equipment-rental/ground-protection/dura-base-mat-8-x-14-tan/1541000/

[ElishaGOtis]

ExpressToll has been added onto some "Payments Accepted" signs on the Turnpike.

Funny because EzTag and TxTag were NOT added on those signs yet.

[Sani]

And there are stubs for ramps built when I-275 was rebuilt west of downtown that haven't been integrated into any expansion or express lane plans.

There are only two reasons I can think of for those stubs; 1)A half-diamond interchange with North Boulevard, and 2)An extension of the frontage roads leading to the downtown exits.

I did a little more digging and found them on page 371 of 597 from the original Tampa Interstate Study Master Plan Report from 1989: https://www.tampabaynext.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/10-REPORT-Master-Plan-1989.pdf

They were indeed supposed to connect to North Boulevard and then connect to a widened, two-way Laurel Street, with the westbound lanes of Laurel going under 275 to connect with the westbound on-ramp, and Green Street's loop under 275 was to be removed.

[ElishaGOtis]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZVVqTGyxZF6byVgi8?g_st=ipc

Lmao they accepted this person's request but not my request for an actual bridge  

Regardless, I'll actually ask my connections to see if we actually could get signage installed here. While as laughable as it is, it does hold cultural value...

[74/171FAN]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZVVqTGyxZF6byVgi8?g_st=ipc

Lmao they accepted this person's request but not my request for an actual bridge  

Regardless, I'll actually ask my connections to see if we actually could get signage installed here. While as laughable as it is, it does hold cultural value...

I think it is more that Google is struggling at stopping these from coming up.  The Kris Wright Talent Memorial keeps coming up at Texas Motor Speedway.

[vegas1962]

ExpressToll has been added onto some "Payments Accepted" signs on the Turnpike.

Funny because EzTag and TxTag were NOT added on those signs yet.

Since you mention tolls, I have a question: I will soon be traveling to Florida and renting a car. I've learned about this "Visitor Toll Pass" app that is available only through the Orlando airport. It touts savings of up to 80% on the rates charged by the major car rental companies for their transponders. Does anyone have any experience with this and can vouch for it?

[DeaconG]

ExpressToll has been added onto some "Payments Accepted" signs on the Turnpike.

Funny because EzTag and TxTag were NOT added on those signs yet.

Since you mention tolls, I have a question: I will soon be traveling to Florida and renting a car. I've learned about this "Visitor Toll Pass" app that is available only through the Orlando airport. It touts savings of up to 80% on the rates charged by the major car rental companies for their transponders. Does anyone have any experience with this and can vouch for it?

Just buy a UniPass...you'll be able to use it with all toll roads east of the Mississippi. I got mine through CFEA. I think they're $20.

[ElishaGOtis]

ExpressToll has been added onto some "Payments Accepted" signs on the Turnpike.

Funny because EzTag and TxTag were NOT added on those signs yet.

Since you mention tolls, I have a question: I will soon be traveling to Florida and renting a car. I've learned about this "Visitor Toll Pass" app that is available only through the Orlando airport. It touts savings of up to 80% on the rates charged by the major car rental companies for their transponders. Does anyone have any experience with this and can vouch for it?

Just buy a UniPass...you'll be able to use it with all toll roads east of the Mississippi. I got mine through CFEA. I think they're $20.

SunPass Pro is better imho

[Great Lakes Roads]

As of December 2025, the following tolling facilities that are still accepting cash are:
Alligator Alley (I-75)
Mid-Bay Bridge (SR 293)
Sunshine Skyway (I-275)

The Beachline West (SR 528) just switched to cashless tolling on December 7th!

[ElishaGOtis]

As of December 2025, the following tolling facilities that are still accepting cash are:
Alligator Alley (I-75)
Mid-Bay Bridge (SR 293)
Sunshine Skyway (I-275)

The Beachline West (SR 528) just switched to cashless tolling on December 7th!

Not to mention the two that only accept cash (Gasparilla Island Bridge / Boca Grande Causeway & Hammock Dunes Bridge).

What's funny is that FDOT's map shows Mid-Bay Bridge and Alligator Alley as being AET only despite neither being the case (granted, Spence Pkwy is AET but not the bridge). Skyway is depicted as Cash or SunPass.

https://floridasturnpike.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/English_MAP_NOV2025.pdf

[D-Dey65]

More fun with Historic Aerials, this time in Inverness.

It would seem that the SR 44 bridges over the Withlacoochee State Trail (formerly the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad DuPont—Lakeland Line) wasn't a four-lane bridge until after the turn of the millennium. But I could've swore it was four lanes before I came here in 1999.

Also, the original southern terminus of the US 41-SR 44 overlap was a wye intersection.

[formulanone]

As of December 2025, the following tolling facilities that are still accepting cash are:
Alligator Alley (I-75)
Mid-Bay Bridge (SR 293)
Sunshine Skyway (I-275)

The Beachline West (SR 528) just switched to cashless tolling on December 7th!

Not to mention the two that only accept cash (Gasparilla Island Bridge / Boca Grande Causeway & Hammock Dunes Bridge).

I was surprised to the learn the Card Sound Bridge does not take cash anymore.

[hotdogPi]

I was surprised to the learn the Card Sound Bridge does not take cash anymore.

Why would you expect a bridge with "card" in its name to accept cash?

[formulanone]

I was surprised to the learn the Card Sound Bridge does not take cash anymore.

Why would you expect a bridge with "card" in its name to accept cash?

It doesn't accept cards either. I also believed the card sound was when you put a playing card in between your bicycle spokes or shuffled a deck.

[ElishaGOtis]

Widening of Florida's Turnpike between SR-50 and US-27 is now halfway 1/3 complete with 8 total lanes 4 lanes NB / 2 lanes SB now open between Hancock Rd and SR-50.

As of 5 AM today.

[D-Dey65]

I just thought of something today. Due to the close proximity of US 92 to the interchange with I-95, does anyone else think that a possible new de-facto interchange with Volusia CR 415 and US 92 might be worthwhile?
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.1667316,-81.0893702,1946m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA2N0gBUAM%3D

[PColumbus73]

I just thought of something today. Due to the close proximity of US 92 to the interchange with I-95, does anyone else think that a possible new de-facto interchange with Volusia CR 415 and US 92 might be worthwhile?
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.1667316,-81.0893702,1946m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA2N0gBUAM%3D

Maybe jughandles for US 92?

[ElishaGOtis]

I just thought of something today. Due to the close proximity of US 92 to the interchange with I-95, does anyone else think that a possible new de-facto interchange with Volusia CR 415 and US 92 might be worthwhile?
https://www.google.com/maps/@29.1667316,-81.0893702,1946m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwOS4wIKXMDSoKLDEwMDc5MjA2N0gBUAM%3D

Maybe jughandles for US 92?

I think there currently are plans to access modifications to CR-415 plus a new connector road, but I'll have to see what those plans entail (if they exist, will double check).

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.wesh.com/article/desantis-suggests-ending-tolls-for-florida-residents/69810914

An interesting proposal from the Governor, but I don't see this happening.

[ElishaGOtis]

https://www.wesh.com/article/desantis-suggests-ending-tolls-for-florida-residents/69810914

An interesting proposal from the Governor, but I don't see this happening.

Politicians... 

[The Ghostbuster]

Florida has had toll roads for decades. I think it would be foolish to remove the tolls on the roads where they currently exist. They should continue expanding the Florida Toll Road System.