SYSTEMWIDE PROJECTS

TURNPIKE SYSTEMWIDE SERVICE PLAZA RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, an integral part of the Florida Department of Transportation, has awarded a multi-million dollar, 30-year contract to operate the fuel and food concession business along the Turnpike. 

• The contract was awarded to Areas USA FLTP, LLC.

• Under the terms of the contract, Areas will provide fuel, food concessions and convenience stores at the eight service plazas located along the 312-mile Turnpike mainline.

• The fuel portion of the contract went into effect on April 1, 2009.

• The food, beverage and retail portion of the contract went into effect on June 3, 2009

• The new contract includes a capital investment of approximately $162 million, which incorporates upgrading and expanding the plaza buildings.

• On November 1, 2010, Phase I construction began at the Turkey Lake, Canoe Creek, Ft. Drum, West Palm Beach, Pompano and Snapper Creek Service Plazas. As a result, the Pompano restaurant building has been closed. The Pompano fuel station and convenience store is open. All services are available at the other plazas. There will be no construction at the Okahumpka and Port St. Luce/Ft. Pierce Service Plazas until Phase I construction is complete.

• The new fuel brand is Shell. Florida Turnpike Services LLC operates the convenience stores and gas stations.  Last year, 37 million gallons of gasoline were pumped at Florida’s Turnpike fuel stations.

• This contract does not include Road Ranger or towing services, which were awarded under separate contracts.

• Under the new contract, the Turnpike will receive a guaranteed minimum of $9 million per year in concessions revenue until construction and renovation of the plazas is complete, then the guaranteed minimum will be $6 million per year.

• The new contract will produce close to 2,500 construction-related jobs.  Additionally all of the service plaza workers were offered positions by Areas, so no jobs were lost due to the new management.  In total, nearly 4,000 direct or indirect jobs are created or maintained as the result of this contract.

• The new buildings feature Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.

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NORTHERN TURNPIKE

TURNPIKE WIDENING PROJECT—BEULAH ROAD TO STATE ROAD 50 (MILEPOSTS 270-273)
This widening and interchange reconstruction project between Beulah Road and State Road 50 completes the widening of the Turnpike in Orange County. The interchange at State Road 50 (Milepost 272) is the busiest Turnpike interchange in Orange County. Average Annual Daily Traffic at the tolled on and off ramps is 31,600 ehicles.

This busy interchange provides direct access from State Road 50, a main east-west artery in the northern part of the county, with connections from the Turnpike to State Road 429 (the Western Beltway) and State Road 408 (the East-West Expressway). State Road 429 is an important commuter and tourist link to southwest Orange County, while State Road 408 is an important link for downtown Orlando commuters.

A collaborative effort between Florida’s Turnpike and FDOT District Five, the project also includes adding an additional lane in each direction on State Road 50, with capacity for future widening as well. The replacement of three bridges at WinterGarden-Vineland Road, Avalon Road and at State Road 50 are included. The new bridges at Winter Garden-Vineland and Avalon Roads accommodates future widening of those two local roads, while the State Road 50 overpass allows the widening of State Road 50 in this area to be completed as part of this project.

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PALM BEACH COUNTY

BROWARD COUNTY

SIGN PANEL AND SIGN STRUCTURE UPGRADES – SAWGRASS EXPRESSWAY AND FLORIDA’S TURNPIKE
Improvements on this project consist of upgrading sign panels and nine sign structures on the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County and Florida’s Turnpike in Miami-Dade County.

Seven sign structures will be replaced on the Sawgrass Expressway, in the vicinity of Sunrise Boulevard, Commercial Boulevard, Sample Road and University Drive. Two sign structures will be replaced on Florida’s Turnpike, near the north- and southbound exits to Sun Life Stadium. 

The work will require shoulder and lane closures during off-peak hours, generally between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., as needed throughout the duration of the project. Click here to  view scheduled lane closures.

Construction began in October 2011 and is scheduled for completion in mid-2012. Approximate cost: $1 million.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

TURNPIKE ALL-ELECTRONIC OPEN ROAD TOLLING – U.S. 1 TO COUNTY LINE ROAD
While all-electronic open road tolling was implemented on February 19, 2011, two construction projects continue on the Homestead, Bird Road, Okeechobee and Miramar mainline toll plazas, and the 33 ramp plazas located between the U.S. 1 (Exit 1) and County Line Road (Exit 47) interchanges.

Current activities include the installation of SunPass gantries at several ramp locations, to support the new toll collection equipment. However, work is mainly focused on the removal of existing tollbooths and toll plaza structures, pavement replacement, construction of auxiliary lanes, and sign replacement.

Construction on the southern project, between the U.S. 1 and State Road 836 (Exit 26) interchanges, began in November 2009 and is scheduled for completion in early 2012.  Work on the northern project, between the S.R. 836 and County Line Road interchanges, began in February 2010 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.

Click here to view a map of the project corridor.

For the most part, construction work that requires lane and ramp closures will take place overnight, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., when fewer vehicles are on the road. This will minimize inconveniences for the majority of travelers. Demolition work at ramp toll plazas may require weekend-long ramp closures and detours. At times, it may be necessary to close lanes during daytime hours on weekends.  Click here to view upcoming closures.

Construction activities are currently focused on demolishing toll plaza structures and constructing new auxiliary lanes. 

For additional information about these projects, contact Sonyha Rodriguez-Miller at the public information office of Florida’s Turnpike by calling 954-975-4855, ext. 1276, or via e-mail at: Sonyha.Rodriguez-Miller@dot.state.fl.us.

You may also click here for information about all-electronic open road tolling on Florida’s Turnpike.

TURNPIKE MILLING AND RESURFACING – MIAMI GARDENS DRIVE TO COUNTY LINE ROAD

Work is underway to replace the asphalt pavement on Florida’s Turnpike from the Miami Gardens Drive overpass to the County Line Road overpass in northern Miami-Dade County.

In addition to the asphalt milling and resurfacing work, the project includes upgrades to existing guardrail and replacement of deck joints on nine bridges.

The work will require lane closures, ramp closures and detours during off-peak hours, generally between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., as needed throughout the duration of the project.  Click here to view upcoming closures.

 Construction began in June 2011 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011. Approximate cost: $2.1 million.

For additional project information, contact Sonyha Rodriguez-Miller at the public information office of Florida’s Turnpike by calling 954-975-4855, ext. 1276, or via e-mail at: Sonyha.Rodriguez-Miller@dot.state.fl.us.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

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POLK COUNTY

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