Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

The Homestead Extension of Florida 's Turnpike ( HEFT ), also known as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, is a freeway in the U.S. state of Florida. It leads to a length of about 77 kilometers from Florida City to Miramar in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward. The road carries the hidden designation Florida State Road 821 and is from the Florida 's Turnpike Enterprise ( FTE) operated.

Route

The route is known as the outer ring road of Greater Miami. According to their signs is treated as a part of the Turnpike mainline, but it differs in its State Road number.

The route begins in Florida City, where she branches off from U.S. Highway 1, leading first to the northeast. The eponymous city of Homestead is directly adjacent to the north of Florida City. After 20 kilometers, the U.S. one is crossed in Cutler Bay, which further leads to the north-east location of Miami here. The Homestead Extension leads, however, further north, where the first one after the State Roads 994 and 992 are crossed before at the Don Shula Expressway Kendall (SR 874) also branches off to the northeast. The expressway continues to be crossed to the north where to junction with the Dolphin Expressway ( SR 836) at Doral earlier nor the State Roads 94, 976 and 90 ( U.S. 41, Tamiami Trail ). Between the Tamiami Trail and the Dolphin Expressway reigns with 178,000 vehicles per day, the largest volume of traffic on the track.

Subsequently, the Homestead Extension crosses U.S. Highway 27 and Interstate 75, making a right-hand bend in the east. In the city of Miramar, the State Roads 823 and 817 are finally crossed before the track ends 5.5 km north of the Golden Glades Interchange to the Turnpike Mainline.

Toll

Tolls are collected electronically since February 19, 2011 all along the line. On this day the toll plazas at which previously could be paid in cash, were replaced by toll bridges. The total cost of a trip from Florida City to Miramar are $ 4.00 ( $ 3.00 with SunPass transponder, as of 2012). Toll bridges are approximately every 19 km along the route.

History

After the Turnpike mainline was completed in 1964, targeted the former Turnpike Authority to an extension of the existing line. The construction of the toll road finally began in July 1971. The northernmost portion to the U.S. Highway 27 was opened on 1 May 1973 the construction of 22 million U.S. dollars and the use of which cost $ 0.40. By the end of 1974 was finally the entire treks are passed to Florida City traffic. The former total cost of a route use amounted to 0.80 U.S. dollars. On February 2, 1989 increased at a fee of $ 0.50 per toll point, the total cost to $ 2.00. On 9 July 1995, she was finally increased to 3.00 U.S. dollars. Finally, the prices were increased on 7 March 2004, when the use was more expensive to 4.00 U.S. dollars without SunPass transponder.

In November 2009 it was announced that the February 19, 2011 would be adjusted in cash the possibility of paying the toll. The toll booths have been replaced by electronic toll bridges. Since the payment is made only via SunPass transponders or a subsequent payment by invoice at the increased price.