FDOT, FHP Announce New Safety Features on 95 Express

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials recently unveiled enhanced safety features for 95 Express in Miami-Dade County.

 

The measures were designed to curtail lane diving on the express lanes and increase safety for law enforcement officers and motorists.

 

Part of these measures include installing more durable plastic poles used to divide the express lanes from the non-tolled general purpose lanes. Currently, the plastic poles are ten feet apart; the more durable poles will be placed five feet apart. The goal is to prevent lane diving where motorists illegally run over the plastic poles between the lanes and endanger themselves and other drivers.

 

Another key element of the enhanced safety features will be new emergency/enforcement pull-off areas along the corridor. These wider shoulders, measuring at least 13 feet, will give both law enforcement and motorists more room to pull off the express lanes for emergency stops or enforcement activities.

 

Installation of the new plastic poles will begin shortly. The emergency/enforcement pull-off area requires approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). After this approval is obtained, construction of the first pull-off area is scheduled to start in 2017.