This part makes the Florida's Turnpike Connector NB into an interstate-quality highway like its southbound cousin and remakes the Connector into a new Turnpike mainline, thus making it eligible for an interstate number.
The first phase of this part of the construction involves reconfiguring how the Florida's Turnpike connects to the Beaches, the SR-826 Palmetto Expressway and I-95 South (Miami). What is to be done first is to construct a new viaduct in the breakdown lane and green margin space of the southbound Turnpike. This roadway would have to soar above the existing Turnpike Connector northbound, otherwise the existing "left exit" for SR-826 and the beaches will have to detour through the Golden Glades park 'n; ride area -- a journey almost to the Biscayne Canal and back, stopping once at a traffic light. Once this is done and the elevated ramp is opened to traffic, the existing northbound Connector can be degraded from the top of the current embankment down to ground level and the ramps leading from the SR-826 Palmetto Expressway eastbound, the Northwest 7th Avenue Extension southbound, and from SR-826 NW 163rd Street westbound can also be degraded to ground level and reconfigured as shown (or in a different manner). A temporary roadway will be required. At this time the bridge carrying the existing Turnpike Mainline over the NW 7th Avenue Extension would be rebuilt to provide room for the widening of the Extension and construction of the Northside Connector (next and final part). At this point the Turnpike southbound will get back its breakdown lane. As an extra, the Mainline that carries SR-826 westbound from the Beaches would be widened to eliminate a choke point just before the 270-degree loop ramp.
Once the above construction is out of the way, the second phase of this part involves the provision of a full breakdown lane on the existing Turnpike Connector northbound from the loop ramp at the US-441/SR-7 and SR-9 roadways, all the way up to the point where the northbound roadway will connect with the existing Turnpike northbound. This will involve adjustments or rebuilding of three bridges: one over the ramps mentioned, the second over the railroad tracks, and the third over the SR-826 Palmetto Expressway. As a part of this construction the State can decide if it wants to keep the existing left-hand split from I-95 northbound, or switch it over to a right-hand split.
Once this is all done, may I suggest that the Turnpike, presently Florida state road reference number SR-91, be posted as I-91 as I have shown since it passes between Orlando and Disney World and carries interstate traffic up to I-75, which heads north all the way to Michigan.
Next and last part coming up!
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