Project Overview
| The I-595 Corridor Roadway Improvements project in Broward County, Florida involved the reconstruction and widening of a 9.3-mile section of I-595, along with frontage road improvements and new interchanges with the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway and State Route (SR) 7. The project includes the addition of three at-grade reversible express toll lanes (595Express) in the median of I-595 that allow drivers to pay a toll to avoid potentially congested conditions in the adjacent (free) general purpose lanes. |
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Thereversible lanes generally operate in the direction of prevailing traffic: eastbound in the mornings and westbound in the afternoon and evenings. Direct connector ramps provide access to and egress from the 595Express at I-75, Florida's Turnpike, and SR 7.
The project improves travel along the east-west I-595 corridor between Fort Lauderdale and its fast-growing western suburbs, connections with several vital north-south routes critical to the South Florida economy, and freight movement to and from Port Everglades and Fort-Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The express lanes also accommodate new express bus service between a park-and-ride center in Sunrise near the western end of I-595 and downtown Miami. Service to Fort Lauderdale was initially provided but was eliminated in October 2015 due to low ridership.
The $1.83 billion (2009 dollars) project has been implemented as a public-private partnership between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and a private concession company called I-595 Express LLC. The company has designed, built, and financed the project and now operates and maintains the roadway over a 35-year period. FDOT provided management oversight and installed, tested, and now operates all tolling equipment for the express lanes. FDOT also sets toll rates and retains the toll revenue. FDOT is compensating the concessionaire with annual payments that are adjusted based on quality and performance requirements stipulated in its contract with I-595 Express LLC.