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Interstate 95

Broward County (Northbound)

A total of 25.3 of the 381 miles of Interstate 95 is located in Broward County, which includes the metropolitan area for Fort Lauderdale. Interstate 95 was not the original limited-access freeway in Broward County, or Florida for that matter. Florida's Turnpike predated the earliest segments of Interstate 95 by two years, completed and opened in 1957. Construction on Interstate 95 began in 1959. By 1964, Interstate 95 was completed from the Dade County line to Florida 84. A section from Florida 84 to Davie Blvd was completed in 1968. North of there, construction began on remaining segments between 1969 and 1972. All of Interstate 95 in Broward County was completed and opened to traffic in 1977. Most segments were constructed with six lanes originally.

During the 1980s, congestion on Interstate 95 became severe, with more and more people commuting between Dade and Broward counties. Florida received generous Interstate funding in the early to mid-1980s, a portion of that went to expanding Interstate 95. Part of the design plans were to add extra lanes on Interstate 95, including one High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane in each direction that would continuously stretch from Interstate 195/Florida 112 in Miami north to Linton Boulevard in southern Palm Beach County. There would also be major interchange upgrades at the newly constructed Interstate 595, Florida 84, and Davie Boulevard. Sound barriers would be built in some places where it was deemed necessary to mitigate noise impacts.

Construction began in 1988, and soon construction would be along the entire length of Interstate 95 in Broward County. To lessen the construction impacts on traffic, Tri-Rail was implemented. Tri-Rail, a rail system named for three counties which it would service (Dade, Broward, Palm Beach) was to run using the existing railroad tracks parallel to Interstate 95. Service started in 1989 and was originally intended to stop once the tri-county Interstate 95 expansion ended, but it continues today. To improve service, a second track is currently being added to allow for more frequent service. Rail and commuter services are often implemented to relieve traffic in areas of extensive construction.

The Interstate 95/Interstate 595 interchange was fully opened on March 22, 1991, after three years of construction and $121 million. Today, Interstate 95 in Broward is a wide 10 and 12 lane road, with an eight-lane section from Deerfield Beach to Boca Raton in Palm Beach County. There are massive interchanges at Interstate 595, Florida 84, and Davie Blvd, which are on multi-levels and involve collector/distributor roads. Other than that, your typical Interstate 95 interchange in Broward is a diamond or partial cloverleaf. One interesting feature is the Commercial Blvd (Florida 870) interchange, which features a flyover ramp from westbound Commercial Boulevard to southbound Interstate 95.

The Broward section of Interstate 95 is the heaviest traveled section in all of South Florida and the entire state. Traffic volumes generally exceed well over 200,000 vehicles daily, and from Interstate 595 to Sunrise Blvd, traffic volumes range from 290,000 to 298,000 vehicles daily - nearly 300,000! This puts Interstate 95 traffic volumes at levels comparable to California 91/Riverside Freeway in Orange County, one of the busiest routes in Southern California.

Despite these traffic volumes, Broward commuters do not experience significant commute hour delays. There are short segments of stop and go traffic during rush hour, primarily between Interstate 595 and Sunrise Boulevard. But Interstate 95 generally moves at full speed, despite heavy traffic. The only exception is rain, an accident and/or rubberneckers. There are no plans to modify Interstate 95 for the meantime, so it's nothing but smooth sailing for Broward motorists, except for the occasional downpour or accident.
Northbound Interstate 95
Another sign reminds motorists that Fort Lauderdale is just ahead via Interstate 95 northbound. This is the third to last sign within Miami-Dade County along northbound Interstate 95. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 18, Junction Florida 858/Hallandale Beach Boulevard; Exit 19, Junction Florida 824/Pembroke Road; and Exit 20, Junction Florida 820/Hollywood Boulevard. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Florida 858 extends east to U.S. 1 in Ives Estates and Florida A1A in Hallandale Beach. To the west, the state road connects with Interstate 75 via locally maintained Miramar Parkway in Miramar. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Interstate 95 departs from Miami-Dade County and enters Broward County. Broward County, home to 30 municipalities, and the developed area rests on the 409.80 square miles that have been developed or are planned for development. All of this land is located east of a levee that separates the populated areas from the vast Everglades. Since the total county has 1,196.90 square miles, the remaining 787.10 square miles are undeveloped and are not planned for development. Population has also increased dramatically, increasing from 1,255,488 people in 1990 to 1,623,018 in 2000. The ethnic majority of county residents is white (58% in 2000), but that is down from 75% in 1990.1 Photo taken 12/28/03.
Road Ranger service patrols are common on all freeways in Broward County, and Interstate 95 is no exception. Signs like this are found along Interstate 95 as the freeway passes through Broward County. Broward County was not always its own county. It was formed in 1915 from the southern portion of Palm Beach County and the northern portion of Dade County. Prior to the creation of Broward County, the dividing line between Palm Beach and Dade Counties was located between Commercial Boulevard and Oakland Park Boulevard (Floranada Road in Fort Lauderdale).1 Photo taken 12/28/03.
The first exit in Broward County is Exit 18, Junction Florida 858/Hallandale Beach Boulevard, one-quarter mile. The drawbridge that carries Hallandale Beach Boulevard over the Intracoastal Waterway to Florida A1A/Ocean Boulevard made the news on January 29, 2005, when cameras captured the image of an elderly woman, Helen Koton, hanging onto the bridge while it raised to its vertical position. She was able to survive with a few bumps and bruises. These cameras were installed due to the presence of two "blindspots" that cannot be seen from the bridge tender's control tower.2 Cameras were considered for some of the other 13 drawbridges in Broward County, especially as a result of another drawbridge accident on Florida 838/Sunrise Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. In that accident, 82-year-old Savitiri Motwane was killed October 2, 2003, as she was unable to hang on to the bridge as it raised to allow clearance for two boats to pass under the Sunrise Boulevard bridge.3 Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 18, Junction Florida 858/Hallandale Beach Boulevard. For the duration of Broward County, Interstate 95 will serve a variety of state roads, each of which provide access to the slim developable area between the Everglades to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Each of Broward County's 30 cities take their access directly or indirectly from the narrow corridor formed by Interstate 95, Florida's Turnpike, Interstate 75, and Florida 869/Sawgrass Expressway. These cities include Coconut Creek, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Dania Beach, Davie, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Hollywood, Lauderdale By The Sea, Lauderdale Lakes, Lauderhill, Lazy Lake, Lighthouse Point, Margate, Miramar, North Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Parkland, Pembroke Park, Pembroke Pines, Plantation, Pompano Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes, Southwest Ranches, Sunrise, Tamarac, Weston, and Wilton Manors. Photo taken 12/28/03.
These signs, which point to the cities served by Florida 858 are posted on the exit ramp from northbound Interstate 95 to Florida 858/Hallandale Beach Boulevard at Exit 18. A left turn (west) leads to Pembroke Park and Miramar, while a right turn leads to Hallandale Beach. Interstate 95 skirts the western edge of the city of Hallandale Beach between the county line and Exit 19 (Junction Florida 824); after Exit 19, Interstate 95 enters the city of Hollywood (between Exits 19 and 22). Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next six exits along northbound are Exit 19, Junction Florida 824/Pembroke Road; Exit 20, Junction Florida 820/Hollywood Boulevard; Exit 21, Florida 822/Sheridan Street; Exit 22, Junction Florida 848/Stirling Road; Exit 23, Junction Florida 818/Griffin Road; and Exit 23, Junction Interstate 595/Port Everglades Expressway east to Port Everglades/Ft. Lauderdale International Airport and west to Interstate 75 north to Naples. All of these exits account for the eight miles between Florida 858 and Interstate 595. Resuming our journey, Interstate 95 next approaches Exit 26, Junction Florida 736/Davie Boulevard. This vantage point is seen from the transition ramp from westbound Interstate 595/Port Everglades Expressway to Interstate 95 north. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Still on the transition ramp from Interstate 595 west to Interstate 95 north, a ramp is placed here for access to the offramp for Exit 26, Junction Florida 736/Davie Boulevard. This is a left exit; the right two lanes continue north to rejoin Interstate 95 north. The next exit is Exit 27, Junction Florida 842/Broward Boulevard east to downtown Fort Lauderdale. After Exit 25/Interstate 595, Interstate 95 northbound enters the city of Fort Lauderdale. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The City of Fort Lauderdale is the "Venice of America," and it is the seat of Broward County. Through the growing international airport (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport), Fort Lauderdale is known internationally as a vacation destination and is known within the United States as the closest destination airport for travelers who use low-cost airlines such as Southwest. Meanwhile, back on Interstate 595 west to Interstate 95 north transition ramp, the mainline overhead signs for Exit 26 (Junction Florida 736/Davie Boulevard) are visible from the collector/distributor lanes. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next state roads met by Interstate 95 north after Interstate 595 is Florida 842/Broward Boulevard, followed by Florida 736/Davie Boulevard. Florida 736 extends west to Plantation and east to Fort Lauderdale. On the collector-distributor lane, the left two lanes merge onto northbound Interstate 95, while the right lane is exit only onto Florida 842/Broward Boulevard. This major east-west corridor connects Plantation with Fort Lauderdale. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 collector-distributor lane reaches the ramp for Exit 27, Junction Florida 842/Broward Boulevard. After this exit, these separate lanes will merge onto the mainline. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The collector distributor lanes become the two right lanes on the expanded Interstate 95 mainline freeway along northbound after the Florida 842 interchange. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Returning to the mainline of Interstate 95 northbound, this tall, arcing flyover ramp is used for the Interstate 95/Broward Boulevard (Florida 842) interchange. Photo taken 12/28/03.
In Broward County, this kind of variable message sign is used instead of the kind found in Miami-Dade County. The signs are constructed so that they emulate the sun, complete with sun rays. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The right lane along northbound Interstate 95 becomes exit only for Exit 29A, Junction Florida 838/Sunrise Boulevard east. Exit 29B is the second ramp that connects to Florida 838 west. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Florida 838 extends east to Fort Lauderdale just north of downtown and west to Plantation and Sunrise, culminating at its junction with Florida 869/Sawgrass Expressway one mile north of the interchange with Interstate 75 and Interstate 595. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 29A, Junction Florida 838/Sunrise Boulevard east. The next ramp is for Exit 29B, Junction Florida 838/Sunrise Boulevard west in this cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 29B, Junction Florida 838/Sunrise Boulevard west. The next three exits along northbound are Exits 31A-B, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard; Exit 32, Junction Florida 870/Commercial Boulevard; and Exit 33, Cypress Creek Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next exit along northbound Interstate 95 is Exits 31A-B, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard. This state road extends west to Sunrise and Lauderhill and east to Oakland Park and the northern areas of Fort Lauderdale. Interstate 95 leaves Fort Lauderdale and enters the city of Oakland Park, founded in 1929 and home to over 31,000 residents. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 approaches Exit 31A, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard east. The following offramp in this cloverleaf interchange is Exit 31B, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard west. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 31A, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard east. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Interstate 95 continues with a configuration of four through lanes and one high occupancy vehicle lanes as the freeway reaches Exit 31A, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard eastbound. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The second offramp in this cloverleaf interchange is Exit 31B, Junction Florida 816/Oakland Park Boulevard westbound. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 32, Junction Florida 870/Commercial Boulevard; Exit 33, Cypress Creek Road; and Exit 36, Junction Florida 814/Atlantic Boulevard. Note that this sign, unlike advance mileage signs in Miami-Dade County, do not contain the state shields. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Florida 870/Commercial Boulevard heads east to Lauderdale by the Sea and west to Tamarac. Like Florida 816 and Florida 838, the state road reaches its western terminus at Toll Florida 869/Sawgrass Expressway. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Like other interchanges along this stretch, the right lane added to the freeway from the onramp from the previous interchange becomes the new exit only lane. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 32, Junction Florida 870/Commercial Boulevard. Interstate 95 departs Oakland Park and prepares to enter the city of Pompano Beach. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 33, Cypress Creek Road; Exit 36, Junction Florida 814/Atlantic Boulevard; and Exit 38, Copans Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
At Cypress Creek Road, Interstate 95 enters Pompano Beach, which was founded in 1908 while the city was still part of Palm Beach County. Unlike other major connecting roads, Cypress Creek Road is not a state road. It travels west to connect to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and east to Florida 811. Here, northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 33A, Cypress Creek Road eastbound. The exit to westbound is a half mile ahead. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 next approaches the offramp to Exit 33B, Cypress Creek Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 33B, Cypress Creek Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 36, Junction Florida 814/Atlantic Boulevard; Exit 38, Copans Road; and Exit 39, Junction Florida 834/Sample Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Florida 814/Atlantic Boulevard is the next interchange along northbound. It is the primary route into Pompano Beach to the east and Coconut Creek to the west. It also extends into the southern edges of Coral Springs before ending at Florida 869. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Traffic prepares to exit onto Florida 814 as Interstate 95 approaches Exit 36. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 36, Junction Florida 814/Atlantic Boulevard. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 38, Copans Road; Exit 39, Junction Florida 834/Sample Road; and Exit 41, Junction Florida 869/10th Street west to Sawgrass Expressway. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Copans Road is a locally maintained east-west arterial that connects Royal Palm Boulevard in Margate with Pompano Beach. If Copans Road and Royal Palm Boulevard were maintained by the state, this corridor would likely be part of Florida 844, which currently connects U.S. 1 and Florida A1A over the Intracoastal Waterway in Pompano Beach. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Use Copans Road west to Coconut Creek, Margate, and Coral Springs; Copans Road also heads east into Pompano Beach. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The right lane of Interstate 95 exits only onto Exit 38, Copans Road. The four main lanes and single high occupancy vehicle lane continue north. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 39, Junction Florida 834/Sample Road; Exit 41, Junction Florida 869/10th Street west to Sawgrass Expressway; Exit 42, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard. Photo taken 12/28/03.
After the Copans Road interchange, Interstate 95 again enters unincorporated Broward County. The next exit is the connection to Florida 834/Sample Road, which extends east to Lighthouse Point and west to Coconut Creek and Coral Springs. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The right lane becomes exit only for Exit 39, Junction Florida 834. Florida 834 follows Sample Road for its entire length, beginning at Toll Florida 869/Sawgrass Expressway in Coral Springs and ending at U.S. 1 in Lighthouse Point. It does not extend all the way to Florida A1A. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 39, Junction Florida 834/Sample Road. Around Milepost 40, Interstate 95 enters the city of Deerfield Beach, which is perhaps best known for its continuous public access walkway that parallels the beachfront. Its beaches are very accessible and easy to reach without infringing on private property as a result of the walkway. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound Interstate 95 are Exit 41, Junction Florida 869/10th Street west to Sawgrass Expressway; Exit 42, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard; and Exit 44, Junction Palm Beach County Route 798, Palmetto Park Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The Sawgrass Expressway, which acts as the proverbial "line in the sand" that separates developed Broward County from the undeveloped and uninhabited Everglades, helps bound populated Broward County along with Interstate 75 to the east. The northern terminus of Toll Florida 869/Sawgrass Expressway is located about three miles east of Exit 41/Junction Florida 869. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 41, Junction Florida 869/10th Street. Florida 869 is a surface street between Interstate 95 and Florida's Turnpike; it becomes the Sawgrass Expressway after passing under the turnpike. Florida 869 also heads east along 10th Street into Deerfield Beach. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next three exits along northbound Interstate 95 are Exit 42, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard; Exit 44, Junction Palm Beach County Route 798, Palmetto Park Road; and Exit 46, Junction Florida 808/Glades Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
There are two ramps that connect to Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard. The first is Exit 42A, which leads to Florida 810/Hillsboro Road east to Deerfield Beach and west to Parkland (with connections to Toll Florida 869 via U.S. 441/Florida 7). Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 42A, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard east to Deerfield Beach. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The next ramp in this interchange is Exit 42B, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard west to U.S. 441/Florida 7 near Parkland. The connection to Parkland is via Holmberg Road. Photo taken 12/28/03.
The right lane becomes exit only for westbound Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard. Photo taken 12/28/03.
Northbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 42B, Junction Florida 810/Hillsboro Boulevard west. This is the final exit in Broward County; Interstate 95 will next enter Palm Beach County. Photo taken 12/28/03.

Sources:

  1. Quick Facts for Broward County: Do you know the area of Broward County? Is Broward County becoming more diverse? What is the largest age group in the County? How has the County changed from 1990 to 2000? prepared by the County of Broward
  2. Retiree, 79, hangs on to rising drawbridge: A Hallandale Beach retiree found herself clinging to the side of a drawbridge as it opened while she tried to cross, Miami Herald, by EVAN S. BENN AND WANDA J. DeMARZO, January 29, 2005.
  3. Cameras eyed for drawbridge: Days after a Fort Lauderdale woman died crossing a drawbridge, transportation officials said they plan to find ways of making the Sunrise Boulevard span safer, Miami Herald, by Jasmine Kripalani, October 14, 2003.

Page Updated January 30, 2005.