Florida officials are espousing the benefits of a collaborative effort they said would yield congestion solutions along Miami’s Palmetto Expressway.
Gov. Ron DeSantis spearheaded the collaboration in which Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) personnel worked closely with legislative leaders to identify congestion solutions, which include modified access points and revised lane configurations throughout the corridor.
“Leaders in Miami-Dade, including Speaker Oliva, Sen. Diaz, and Rep. 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. “I’m glad that progress is being made, and I appreciate the Department’s responsiveness to legislators and their constituents.”
The scope of the collaboration involved FDOT working closely with legislative leaders, as well as local stakeholders, to reach a solution providing a lasting positive impact for motorists, officials said.
The proposed improvements include adding an additional general-purpose lane in the southbound direction, reducing the managed lanes in the northbound direction from two to one, and creating an access point into the managed lanes from NW 122nd Street.
“The modifications we are implementing on the Palmetto Expressway will address the concerns that have been expressed by Gov. DeSantis, Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, legislative leaders, and the traveling public,” Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault said. “The department’s goal is to always increase safety and enhance mobility within our transportation system, and I am confident these solutions will allow us to better serve Miami-Dade’s residents and visitors.”