New Bridge Opened On I-595 At Turnpike

FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Less than week after opening two new ramps on I-595, the Florida Department of Transportation opened a new bridge which is part of a ramp system from westbound S.R. 84 / I-595 to Florida's Turnpike.

"Opening this bridge is an important step to eliminating the weaving at the Florida's Turnpike interchange and to ease congestion along westbound I-595," said FDOT I-595 Project Manager Paul Lampley.

The FDOT said crews are currently working to build designated ramps for each movement at the I-595 / Florida's Turnpike interchange.

Last Monday morning construction crews opened two new ramps; one to Nob Hill Road, the other is a new entrance from State Road 84.  The Nob Hill Road ramp was closed last July so a new "braided" ramp could be constructed.

A braided ramp was opened last month on westbound I-595 between Davie Road and University Drive.

The project team also plans to open continuous westbound S.R. 84 by the end of 2011. This requires building a new and separate section of westbound S.R. 84 between U.S. 441 and Davie Road. Project leaders said lanes for westbound S.R. 84 in this area will be open a year ahead of schedule.

The I-595 project consists of the reconstruction of the I-595 mainline from the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway to the I-95 interchange and from Peters Road to Griffin Road on Florida's Turnpike for 2.5 miles for a total project length of 13 miles. The project includes additional lanes on the I-595 mainline, the addition of braided ramps and bypass ramps and a new reversible express lanes system.