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"HEFT" redirects here. For other meanings, see heft.
Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike (HEFT), assigned the State Road 821 (SR 821) designation by the Florida Department of Transportation, and originally known as the West Dade Expressway, is a southern extension of the tolled Florida's Turnpike, running around the north and west sides of the Miami area, extending from the Turnpike mainline four miles north of the Golden Glades Interchange, south to end at Florida City (near Homestead). It was opened in stages between 1973 and 1974, after the main line of the Turnpike was completed, and is used by both commuters and travelers to the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park.[2][3] Due to its path, it acts as a de facto outer beltway for Miami.[4]
[edit] Route descriptionThe HEFT has used mile-based exit numbers and a coin system since it's inception, and has in part been responsible for changes to those systems on the rest of the Turnpike mainline.[5] Unlike the rest of the Turnpike, with tolls every 45 miles (72 km) on average, the extension has tolls every 12 miles (19 km), with a much higher traffic load. Unlike other Florida's Turnpike Enterprise highways, it is treated as if it were part of the main line Florida's Turnpike highway by highway signs and exit numbers, despite its separate state road number.[2]
The road begins at an interchange with US 1 in Florida City. The first 16 miles of the tollway are built with new developments, constructed after Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed most of the area in 1992. The first interchange northbound is Campbell Drive / Southwest 312th Street in nearby Homestead, providing access to Homestead-Miami Speedway. At mile 11, it passes through the Homestead Toll Plaza, the first of four on the route. Exit 17 leads to the Don Shula Expressway, connecting to the Palmetto Expressway. The Snapper Creek Service plaza at mile 19, the only plaza on the extension, unlike the ones on the mainline, only offers a convenience store inside the gas station. At mile 23, it intersects the Bird Road Toll plaza. The tollway meets with Tamiami Trail at exit 25 and the Dolphin Expressway at exit 26A in Doral, providing access to Miami International Airport eastbound.[6] After passing through the Okeechobee Toll plaza, it intersects with US27 at exit 35 and I-75 at exit 39. North of the I-75 interchange, the tollway curves east towards the turnpike mainline, where it approaches LandShark Stadium and the Miramar Toll plaza before it ends four miles north of the Golden Glades Interchange.[7] [edit] HistoryAfter the Turnpike mainline was completed in 1964, the turnpike authority (precursor to Florida's Turnpike Enterprise), explored several extensions to the turnpike system, including a expressway in western Dade County from Florida City to the turnpike mainline at the Dade/Broward county line.[8] Construction on the tollway began in July of 1971.[9] The northernmost 13 miles of the tollway between US Route 27 and the Turnpike mainline was open to traffic on May 1st, 1973, at a cost of $22 million and a $0.40 toll to motorists. [3] The tollway was completed in 1974 with the last section in Florida City, connecting to US 1.[8] The portion of the HEFT between Exits 11 (Cutler Ridge Boulevard) and 16 (State Road 992) was designated the "John F. Cosgrove Highway" in 2008 by the Florida Legislature, following his death in 2006. A lawyer and former legislator, Cosgrove was also the first mayor of Cutler Bay, a city along the HEFT. He was instrumental in passing legislation to keep insurers from leaving the state following Hurricane Andrew.[2] [edit] FutureIn November 2009, it was announced that the HEFT will be converted to a total "toll-by-plate" system,[10] similar to Ontario's 407 ETR toll road. The change in toll system will begin in 2011, with expansion on the main Turnpike in Broward County in 2012.[11] [edit] Exit list
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