Doral Partners with Turnpike in $15 Million Traffic Relief Project

City of Doral Government Center
8401 NW 53rd Terrace
Doral, FL 33166
305-59 DORAL (305-593-6725)

September 15, 2016
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(MEDIA ONLY):
Maggie Santos (305)409-9762
Maggie.Santos@cityofdoral.com

Doral, FL –  The Doral City Council unanimously approved entering into a Joint Participation Agreement with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise to build a flyover ramp from NW 117th Avenue to the northbound side of the Florida Turnpike as well as bridge over 41st Street connecting the north and south halves of the Turnpike Trail and a slip ramp for local traffic on 117th.  Under the Local Funding Agreement, Doral will only pay $3.2 million, while the Florida Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) pays the $12.4 million balance.
 
The need to remove freight traffic from Doral Boulevard was identified by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Office (MPO) in 2008. In 2013, an MPO study confirmed the benefit of a flyover ramp giving heavy trucks direct access to the Turnpike.  The City Council quickly endorsed the idea of a flyover ramp in November 2014 and garnered the support of the Miami Dade County Commissioners in 2015.  With this broad coalition of support, the FTE agreed to add the flyover ramp and the      pedestrian bridge to their planned 2017 widening project on the Turnpike.
 
“Doral Boulevard essentially divides the retail and residential half of the city from the commercial-industrial half,” explained Dr. Joan Shen, the City’s Transportation Advisor. “By providing a direct route to the Turnpike, we eliminate trucks from our three main avenues trying to turn left onto Doral Boulevard and slowing traffic flow.” 
 
“Is it all about finding partnerships that can spread the cost and benefit our residents,” said Mayor Luigi Boria. “A $3 million investment that brings more than $12 million in infrastructure and traffic relief? That’s a good deal.” the Mayor added.

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