Commissioner McGhee seeks alternative to State's proposed Turnpike flyover, in order to save thousands of jobs
MIAMI-DADE – State transportation officials should scrap plans for a new Florida City-area flyover and design a better highway that doesn’t hurt neighboring businesses, says District 9 Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee.
Commissioner McGhee has opposed the flyover that’s part of a plan to widen the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike, noting how such a bypass could lead to a big decline in business and sales. On Thursday, Sept. 30, he was joined by fellow Governing Board members of the Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization, in issuing a directive that urges Florida's Turnpike Enterprise to:
- Develop project alternatives for the TPO’s consideration that addresses the concerns and needs of the community.
- Work with the TPO’s Executive Director to develop these alternatives, as well as obtain input from the community.
- Come back to the TPO Governing Board within three months to provide an update on potential new project alternatives and a timeline to develop the project.
“This approach will ensure that the funds are kept here in Miami-Dade County while we work to try and find a solution for this project,” Commissioner McGhee said.
FDOT’s Financial Project Identification No. 439545-2 is a proposed project to widen the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike from Campbell Drive to south of Palm Drive on U.S. 1 and to build the flyover above U.S. 1 and Palm Drive. Commissioner McGhee recently sponsored a resolution that urges the Florida Department of Transportation to cancel or cease development of the flyover plan. If the project were built as proposed, the tolled flyover would run down the center of U.S. 1, above Palm Drive, where it would continue south of Palm Drive for about 1,800 feet before returning to ground level.