State Road (S.R.) 9/I-95 from North of 6th Avenue South to North of S.R. 704/Okeechobee Boulevard Managed Lanes Project

Project Updates:

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has paused the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study along State Road (S.R.) 9/I-95 from 6th Avenue South to S.R. 704/Okeechobee Boulevard in Palm Beach County, Florida. The determination to pause the PD&E study was based on funding and financial constraints to implement this large and complex project.

The FDOT will continue to develop funding-compatible projects along I-95 and at the interchanges to improve safety, maintain acceptable traffic operations and preserve the integrity of the interstate and arterial highway system.

Study Overview:

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had been conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study along S.R. 9/I-95 from north of 6th Avenue South to north of S.R. 704/Okeechobee Boulevard. A PD&E Study is FDOT’s process to evaluate the social, economic, and environmental impacts associated with a planned transportation improvement project. At this time, the study has been paused, and no additional work is proceeding until further notice.

Prior to the pause, the purpose of the study was to evaluate options to increase capacity by adding managed lanes in each direction and to alleviate congestion at the S.R. 9/I-95 and S.R. 80/Southern Boulevard interchange. The study also aimed to assess corridor capacity, modal interrelationships, and safety to identify potential improvements.

Purpose and Need

Before the study was paused, its primary goal was to identify ways to improve corridor traffic operations and safety, as well as explore opportunities to enhance pedestrian and cyclist mobility along the S.R. 80/Southern Boulevard corridor.

Project alternatives previously under evaluation included the addition of managed travel lanes and safety enhancements to the interstate exit configuration at Belvedere Road. These improvements were intended to reduce travel times, improve safety through auxiliary lanes between entry and exit ramps, support regional traffic and freight movement via an improved connection to S.R. 80/Southern Boulevard, and decrease evacuation and emergency response times.

FDOT will provide updates if the study resumes or new information becomes available.