Dolphin–Palmetto Interchange
25°46′52″N 80°19′15″W / 25.781044°N 80.320885°W
| Dolphin–Palmetto Interchange | |
|---|---|
 Construction on the interchange in November 2014 from SR 826 northbound | |
| Location | |
| Miami-Dade County, Florida | |
| Roads at junction | |
| Construction | |
| Type | Stack interchange |
| Lanes | 2 to 14 |
| Constructed | Reconstructed 2012–2016 |
| Maximum height | Sea level to 100 feet (30 m) AMSL (highest flyovers) |
| Maintained by | FDOT |
The Dolphin–Palmetto Interchange, also known as 826–836, is a complex four-level stack interchange in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It primarily serves as a highway interchange between State Road 826 (SR 826, Palmetto Expressway) and SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway), but also has ramps to surface streets such as SR 969 (Milam Dairy Road) and Flagler Street.[1]
History
The reconstruction project was completed in phases from 2012 to 2015-[2][3] 2016, at a cost of about $560 million,[4] with related construction beginning in 2009, replacing the old two-level diamond interchange. The interchange was considered well beyond safe capacity, serving over 400,000 vehicles per day. The reconstruction was the final phase in a 12-step program to improve the highly trafficked Palmetto Expressway,[5] though in 2014 a new project to add express lanes to the Palmetto Expressway was proposed,[6] to begin construction in 2016. Much work also remains for the Dolphin Expressway.[7] Work took place with phased detours, closures, and openings. All roads involved were kept open throughout construction. Much of the new interchange opened in October 2015,[8] including the two highest flyovers,[9] with completion at that point scheduled for March 2016.[10] By summer 2016, the interchange was objectively complete.[11] The official announcement came in early October, very near budget ($563 million) but a couple years over time. The project included moving a drainage canal and construction of 45 individual bridges, with the interchange serving 430,000 vehicles daily.[7] The main four levels of the interchange are the Palmetto at ground level under the Dolphin Expressway, the Dolphin-to-Palmetto left-hand flyovers, then the Palmetto-to-Dolphin left-hand flyovers on top. As of 2016, it's the largest stack interchange in Miami (surpassing the Midtown Interchange).
See also
References
- ^ "Project Information". Florida Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "4 New Ramps or Bridges at Palmetto Expressway–Dolphin Expressway Interchange Opening Sunday". Miami: WTVJ-TV. January 11, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Changes on SR 836 Now in Effect". The Miami Herald. November 21, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Traffic Nightmare Coming At 836–826 Interchange". Miami: WFOR-TV. April 19, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ "Project History". Florida Department of Transportation. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ Masihy, Myriam (September 9, 2013). "Express Lanes Coming Soon to the Palmetto Expressway and Interstate 75". Miami: WTVJ-TV. Retrieved November 25, 2014.
- ^ a b Viglucci, Andres (October 3, 2016). "Seven-year reconstruction of Palmetto and Dolphin expressway interchange is done". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
- ^ Batchelor, Amand (October 8, 2015). "Major changes coming to Palmetto, Dolphin Expressway". WPLG-TV. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
- ^ Chardy, Alfonso (October 6, 2015). "Another major traffic pattern shift scheduled for Dolphin and Palmetto expressways". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ^ Borge, Vanessa (October 8, 2015). "Big Changes To Palmetto Expy/Dolphin Expy This Weekend". WFOR-TV. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
- ^ Nancy Eagleton (September 11, 2016). "SR 836/Dolphin Expressway – 50 years in the making". Miami's Community Newspapers. Retrieved September 25, 2016.