UF00083645_00001.pdf

UF00083645_00001.txt

UF00083645_00001_pdf.txt

"YOUR GOVERNMENT" -- #1 From: Governor's Office

by Farris Bryant Tallahassee, Florida
Governor of Florida

FLORIDA'S EXPADING INTERSTATE SYSTEM

Florida is experiencing the greatest road building boom in the
history of the state.

The State Road Department now has more than $290 million in
road and bridge projects under way on our state-maintained highway

network.

1 am particularly proud of the progress being made on the four
Interstate superhighx-zays in Florida.

This-national system of limited-access freeways was authorized
by Congress in 1956 and is scheduled to be completed in 1972.
Florida's share of this hl,OOO-mile nationwide network totals 1,161
miles.

Since this program was authorized eight years ago, the State
Road Department has made commendable strides.

Under the able leadership of Road Board Chairman John R. Phillips,
the Road Department has completed 370 miles, has an additional 130
miles under construction and is acquiring right of way on 100 more
miles.

Thus, we have initiated work on 600 miles of the 1,161-mile
freeway system in Florida. Tis progress indicates we are keeping
pace with the 16-year program outlined by the U. 8. Bureau of Public
Roads. In Fact -- as of July 1 we were the number one state in the
natiOn in the utilization of Interstate Highway funds.

The cost of this program is staggering. It will cost in excess
of one billion dollars to complete this superhighway network in our
state.

However, the apparent high cost of building this modern
superhighway chain is offset by its ability to accommodate unusually
heavy traffic swiftly and safely.

In metropolitan areas where motorists lose valuable time the

urban Interstate facilities are particularly effective.

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Under the best conditions, a conventional city street can
accommodate 600 vehicles per lane per hour. An urban Interstate
facility is designed to move 1,500 vehicles per lane per hour.

The Interstate system is desinged as a limited-access freeway
network. All rural routes are fenced to control access. Traffic can
only enter er exit at designated interchanges. In Florida, all rural
Interstate segments will provide a minimum of four lanes divided by a
64-foot median. In some urban areas the Interstate facilities will
offer six and eight lanes.

In addition to a minimun of faur lanes, the Interstate facilities
provide grade separations to prevent opposing or intersecting traffic
frOm crossing the path of any motorists. These overpasses are one of
the mast valuable safety features built into the Interstate system.

when the four Interstate routes are complete in Florida, a
motorist will be able to drive from Miami to Pensacola without ever
encountering an intersecting highway, a traffic light or railroad
crossing.

Route u is the most developed Interstate superhighway in Florida.
This lsu-mile freeway between St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast and
Daytona Beach on the Atlantic Seaboard is complete except for two
urban segments in Tampa and Orlando.

These two links portions of the East-west Tampa Expressway and
the Orlando-Winter Park Expressway are scheduled to be open to
traffic by December, 196h.

oute 10 is the second longest Interstate Route in our state -
extending 367 miles from Jacksonville to Pensacola. This freeway is
complete between Jacksonville and Lake City and considerable work is

under way near Pensacola in the panhandle.

Route 75 is the second most developed route in Florida. It will
extend 210 miles from the Georgia line sauth to Tampa when completed.
Hotcrista are now using the 71-mile segment from the state line south
to U. S. hhl near Gainesville.

Unless we experience some inclement weather in the next week or

two, the adjoining 73-mile link of Route 75 from U. S. 4&1 south to
the Florida Turnpike near wilduood will be open to traffic by August.

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I hope this connection with our new Trunpike extension can be made
the last week in July.

This will allow a motorist to enter Florida on Route 75 and
drive all the way to Hiami on a limitedoaccess multi-laned superhighway

The longest Interstate superhighway in Florida is Route 95. This
faur-laned facility will extend from the Georgia line north of
Jacksonville south 395 miles to Miami when completed.

Early Hark on Route 95 was concentrated in Miami and Jacksonville
to relieve pressing traffic problems in these two metroyolitan areas.
The Interstate portion of the Jacksonville Expressway has been
completed and the northern leg of the Miami Expressway is Open to
traffic.

we have recently accelerated the rural canatruction of Route 95
and now have a 51-mile segment under construction in Brevard County.

In addition, all of Route 95 between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville
is expected to be under construction by December, 1963. Work is now
under way on approximately uo miles of this 90-mile segment.

This entire Interstate syatem is vital to Florida'a continued
growth. I am confident the State Road Department will meet ita

obligation to the motoring public by completing these four super-
highways on schedule.