On Monday. Governor Ron Desantis, along with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and state legislators, identified significant solutions that meet the congestion needs on the Palmetto Expressway.
Miami’s Palmetto Expressway, known throughout the state as ‘Crawlmetto,’ is a Miami driving nightmare, continuing to halt daily commutes that lead to time consuming traffic jams. Citizens have been vocal about State Road 826, calling the gridlock and toll roads a disaster for the community.
Lawmakers can hear the complaints loud and clear, and are hoping today’s changes will fix the ongoing issue that plagues South Florida commuters.
“Leaders in Miami-Dade, including Speaker Oliva, Senator Diaz and Representative Avila, expressed concerns to me about congestion on the Palmetto Expressway and I tasked Secretary Thibault with working with these legislators to develop a solution,” DeSantis said in a press release.“I’m glad that progress is being made and I appreciate the Department’s responsiveness to legislators and their constituents.”
DeSantis, along with House Speaker Jose Oliva, are hoping to implement a plan that will ease the impasse.
The new changes include:
- Adding an additional general-purpose lane in the southbound direction
- Reducing the managed lanes in the northbound direction from two to one
- Creating an access point into the managed lanes from NW 122ndStreet
For several months, FDOT has worked closely with legislative leaders as well as local stakeholders to reach a solution that would provide a lasting positive impact for motorists. A pair of Miami Republicans leading the charge, Senator Manny Diaz Jr. and Representative Bryan Avila applauded today’s announcement, saying the changes will help alleviate the bumper-to-bumper traffic.
“Today’s announcement shows that FDOT and our state’s leaders have been laser focused on finding a solution to the congestion that South Florida has experienced for some time now,”said Diaz.“I appreciate FDOT’s collaborative approach to solving this issue and commitment to increasing capacity along the roadway.”
“I commend Governor DeSantis for his leadership and willingness to work with us to address this important issue,” said Avila. “These changes will help reduce drive times and relieve congestion on the Palmetto Expressway. We will continue to find transportation solutions and enhance the quality of life for our residents.”