Alligator Alley
Encyclopedia
Alligator Alley is a section of Interstate 75 (State Road 93) and State Road 84 extending from Naples
on the west coast of Florida
to Weston
on the east. First opened in 1969, most of the highway traverses the Everglades
.
The name was given by the American Automobile Association
during planning; they believed it would be a useless road, an alley for alligator
s. However, as alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, and occasionally the road itself, the nickname has a somewhat literal meaning.
users) both eastbound and westbound, and it is one of only three tolled sections of Interstate 75. There are two exits along the roadway, neither of which charge a toll to enter or exit the highway.
(which is currently the hidden designation of the highway). After it was determined that I-75 was using this route for the Tampa-Miami extension instead of the Tamiami Trail
in 1973, it was widened to four lanes between 1986 and 1992, with many bridges designed to let water and wildlife pass underneath. This helped to reduce the environmental impact of the highway somewhat, especially upon the severely endangered
Florida panther
, as well as reducing the danger of the highway, which was notorious for high-speed accidents.
A state effort to privatize Alligator Alley failed in May 2009 when no bids were received for the highway that met the required terms.
In January, 2000, the west end toll plaza of Alligator Alley was dedicated to the memory of Edward J. Beck, a toll taker who was murdered while on the job, January 30, 1974.
Naples, Florida
Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...
on the west coast of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
to Weston
Weston, Florida
Weston is a suburb of South Florida located in Broward County, Florida, USA. Established as a city in 1996, much of the community was developed by Arvida/JMB Realty and is located near the western developmental boundary of Broward County. It is the most western city in Broward County, and its...
on the east. First opened in 1969, most of the highway traverses the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
.
The name was given by the American Automobile Association
American Automobile Association
AAA , formerly known as the American Automobile Association, is a federation of 51 independently operated motor clubs throughout North America. AAA is a not-for-profit member service organization with more than 51 million members. AAA provides services to its members such as travel, automotive,...
during planning; they believed it would be a useless road, an alley for alligator
Alligator
An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....
s. However, as alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, and occasionally the road itself, the nickname has a somewhat literal meaning.
Route description
Currently, automobile drivers pay a $2.50 toll ($2.00 for SunPassSunPass
SunPass is an electronic toll collection system in use by the State of Florida and was originally created by the Florida Department of Transportation's Florida's Turnpike...
users) both eastbound and westbound, and it is one of only three tolled sections of Interstate 75. There are two exits along the roadway, neither of which charge a toll to enter or exit the highway.
History
It was originally built by H. L. Mills Construction Company as a two-lane tollway connecting the two coasts of Florida, as a part of State Road 84State Road 84 (Florida)
Originally extending from the Tamiami Trail in Naples to Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, State Road 84 now consists of two noncontiguous pieces:...
(which is currently the hidden designation of the highway). After it was determined that I-75 was using this route for the Tampa-Miami extension instead of the Tamiami Trail
Tamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 1 in Miami. The road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90....
in 1973, it was widened to four lanes between 1986 and 1992, with many bridges designed to let water and wildlife pass underneath. This helped to reduce the environmental impact of the highway somewhat, especially upon the severely endangered
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Florida panther
Florida Panther
The Florida panther is an endangered subspecies of cougar that lives in forests and swamps of southern Florida in the United States. Its current taxonomic status is unresolved, but recent genetic research alone does not alter the legal conservation status...
, as well as reducing the danger of the highway, which was notorious for high-speed accidents.
A state effort to privatize Alligator Alley failed in May 2009 when no bids were received for the highway that met the required terms.
In January, 2000, the west end toll plaza of Alligator Alley was dedicated to the memory of Edward J. Beck, a toll taker who was murdered while on the job, January 30, 1974.
Rest areas
- Broward CountyBroward County, Florida-2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile...
– Rest Area half-way between Exits 23 & 49 at mile marker 35. BSO Fire Station 106 is located next to the rest area. - Collier CountyCollier County, FloridaCollier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839...
– Rest Area half-way between Exits 49 & 80 at mile marker 63
Exit list
Note: Mileage is based on I-75 mileage.| County | Location | Mile | # Exit number An exit number is a number assigned to a road junction, usually an exit from a freeway. It is usually marked on the same sign as the destinations of the exit, as well as a sign in the gore.... |
Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old | New | |||||
| Collier Collier County, Florida Collier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839... |
101.284 | 15 | 101 | Western terminus | ||
| (100) | Toll Plaza ($2.50 Eastbound, $2.00 with SunPass SunPass SunPass is an electronic toll collection system in use by the State of Florida and was originally created by the Florida Department of Transportation's Florida's Turnpike... ) |
|||||
| 80.048 | 14A | 80 | ||||
| Broward Broward County, Florida -2000 Census:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,623,018 people, 654,445 households, and 411,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,346 people per square mile . There were 741,043 housing units at an average density of 615 per square mile... |
Miccosukee Indian Reservation Miccosukee Indian Reservation The Miccosukee Indian Reservation is the homeland of the Miccosukee tribe of Native Americans. It is divided into three sections in two counties of southern Florida, USA. Their total land area is 128.256 sq mi... |
49.428 | 14 | 49 | ||
| (26) | Toll Plaza ($2.50 Westbound, $2.00 with SunPass SunPass SunPass is an electronic toll collection system in use by the State of Florida and was originally created by the Florida Department of Transportation's Florida's Turnpike... ) |
|||||
| Weston Weston, Florida Weston is a suburb of South Florida located in Broward County, Florida, USA. Established as a city in 1996, much of the community was developed by Arvida/JMB Realty and is located near the western developmental boundary of Broward County. It is the most western city in Broward County, and its... |
23.494 | 13A-B | 23 | Eastern terminus | ||