Florida State Road 80
Encyclopedia
Florida State Road 80 is a 124.04 miles (199.6 km) route linking US 41 in Fort Myers
and Florida State Road A1A
in Palm Beach
. The road is the northernmost of three linking Southwest Florida
to South Florida via the Everglades
(Alligator Alley
and Tamiami Trail
being the other two). Due to increasing traffic, State Road 80 has experienced upgrades and widening in various sections in the last decade.
east out of the city, expanding to six lanes east of the Ortiz Avenue intersection. It has an interchange with Interstate 75
as it passes through the eastern suburbs of Ft. Myers before being reduced to four lanes east of SR 31
before leaving Lee County
and entering Hendry County
. At its county seat, La Belle, it serves as the town's main street and intersects SR 29. After La Belle, it becomes a two lane highway until a triangle intersection with US 27
, where the two roads run concurrently as a four lane highway as it heads east towards Clewiston
and the southern coast of Lake Okeechobee
.
and Belle Glade
at the western end, growing suburbs Loxahatchee
, Wellington
, Royal Palm Beach
and county seat West Palm Beach
. In South Bay, US 27
heads south towards Miami
, following the North New River Canal. Between Belle Glade and Loxahatchee, the roads are surrounded by sugarcane
fields, with US 441
and US 98
both joining State Road 80 during this stretch. Lion Country Safari
marks the beginning of a rural to urban transition of the road for the remainder of its journey. The road doubles from four to eight lanes in Royal Palm Beach, as the road serves as the border between Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. At the State Road 7 intersection, US 441 turns south towards Miami. The South Florida Fairgrounds and the Cruzan Amphitheater, where the South Florida Fair
takes place, are next on the route, just east of SR 7. After passing Florida's Turnpike
, it gains two more lanes and becomes an expressway, with diamond interchanges with Jog Road, Haverhill Road and Military Trail. East of Military Trail, it loses a lane in each direction as it straddles the southern end of Palm Beach International Airport
, where private aircraft are serviced, with commercial access to the airport available via SR 704A. It then intersects through I-95
, becoming a four lane road in several older, high density neighborhoods in West Palm Beach. East of the Florida East Coast railroad bridge crossing, it intersects US 1 and SR 5, reducing to two lanes as it crosses Lake Worth Lagoon
on two bridges, and ending on a roundabout with FL A1A in Palm Beach near the Mar-A-Lago
estate.
on July 4, 1924.
From 1923 to the 1945 renumbering
, the road was known as State Road 25, and in the reassignment, the portion from US 41 in Fort Myers east to Palm Beach was transferred over to the new SR 80, with the sections of old SR 25 west of US 41 reassigned to SR 867
.
Until 2002, Palm Beach County's Southern Blvd. was a four lane road with a center left-turn lane, causing high gridlock due to the rapidly growing western suburbs of Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. The road was known as "Killer 80" due to its high fatality rate. In 2002, after many years of debate, the Florida Department of Transportation
embarked on a $78 million project to upgrade and widen Southern Boulevard from I-95 to US 441/SR 7. Between 2003 and 2008, it was transformed into a limited-access highway with freeway-grade diamond interchange
s at the most congested intersections, with traffic signals remaining at others.
The two bridges crossing Lake Worth Lagoon, built in 1950, are currently in the planning stages for replacement.
Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure....
and Florida State Road A1A
Florida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
in Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Florida
The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth...
. The road is the northernmost of three linking Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida
Southwest Florida is a region of Florida , United States located along its gulf coast, south of the Tampa Bay area, west of Lake Okeechobee and mostly north of the Everglades...
to South Florida via the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
(Alligator Alley
Alligator Alley
Alligator Alley is a section of Interstate 75 and State Road 84 extending from Naples on the west coast of Florida to Weston on the east...
and Tamiami Trail
Tamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 1 in Miami. The road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90....
being the other two). Due to increasing traffic, State Road 80 has experienced upgrades and widening in various sections in the last decade.
Lee and Hendry Counties
State Road 80 begins in at an intersection with US 41 (Tamiami Trail) as a pair of two lane, one-way streets weaving through central Ft. Myers until they join at the intersection of Palm Beach Blvd./Seaboard Street as a four lane two way road. From there, it follows the Caloosahatchee RiverCaloosahatchee River
The Caloosahatchee River is a river on the southwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States, approximately long. It drains rural areas on the northern edge of the Everglades northwest of Miami...
east out of the city, expanding to six lanes east of the Ortiz Avenue intersection. It has an interchange with Interstate 75
Interstate 75 in Florida
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Hialeah, Florida, a few miles northwest of Miami to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...
as it passes through the eastern suburbs of Ft. Myers before being reduced to four lanes east of SR 31
Florida State Road 31
State Road 31 is a state road in Southwest Florida in Lee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. It is about 36 miles long. The entire roadway is two lanes wide, even near Fort Myers. The highway crosses the Caloosahatchee River via the Wilson Pigott Bridge, a small drawbridge, a mile north of the...
before leaving Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
and entering Hendry County
Hendry County, Florida
Hendry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 36,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 39,611 . Its county seat is La Belle. The county comprises the Clewiston, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Hendry County...
. At its county seat, La Belle, it serves as the town's main street and intersects SR 29. After La Belle, it becomes a two lane highway until a triangle intersection with US 27
U.S. Route 27 in Florida
U.S. Route 27 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the South Florida Metropolitan Area northwest to the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Throughout the state, US 27 has been designated the Claude Pepper Memorial Highway by the Florida State Legislature...
, where the two roads run concurrently as a four lane highway as it heads east towards Clewiston
Clewiston, Florida
Clewiston is a city in Hendry County, Florida. The population was 6,460 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 7,173. Clewiston is home to the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and the Clewiston Museum.-History:...
and the southern coast of Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
.
Palm Beach County
In Palm Beach County, it serves as a commuter route between South BaySouth Bay, Florida
South Bay is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the westernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The population was 3,859 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,506...
and Belle Glade
Belle Glade, Florida
Belle Glade is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida on the southeastern shore of Lake Okeechobee. The population was 14,906 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,739....
at the western end, growing suburbs Loxahatchee
Loxahatchee, Florida
Loxahatchee is a community located in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is located in the areas north of Wellington and west and northwest of Royal Palm Beach, Florida and approximately west of West Palm Beach. Loxahatchee is also the name of the Post Office that serves this area,...
, Wellington
Wellington, Florida
Wellington is a village in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the village had a population of 55,584 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Wellington is part of the South Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Royal Palm Beach
Royal Palm Beach, Florida
Royal Palm Beach is a village in southeast Florida, located in Palm Beach County. The population was measured at 21,523 in the 2000 census. As of April 2008, the recorded population was 31,864...
and county seat West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. In South Bay, US 27
U.S. Route 27 in Florida
U.S. Route 27 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from the South Florida Metropolitan Area northwest to the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Throughout the state, US 27 has been designated the Claude Pepper Memorial Highway by the Florida State Legislature...
heads south towards Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, following the North New River Canal. Between Belle Glade and Loxahatchee, the roads are surrounded by sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
fields, with US 441
U.S. Route 441 in Florida
U.S. Route 441 in Florida is a north–south United States Highway. It runs from Miami in South Florida northwest to the Georgia border north of the Lake City area....
and US 98
U.S. Route 98 in Florida
U.S. Route 98 is an east-west United States highway that runs from western Mississippi to southern Florida. It was established in 1933 as a route between Pensacola, Florida and Apalachicola, Florida, and has since been extended eastward across the Florida Peninsula and westward into Mississippi...
both joining State Road 80 during this stretch. Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari
Lion Country Safari is a drive-through safari park located in Loxahatchee , in Palm Beach County, Florida. Founded in 1967, it claims to be the first 'cageless zoo' in the United States....
marks the beginning of a rural to urban transition of the road for the remainder of its journey. The road doubles from four to eight lanes in Royal Palm Beach, as the road serves as the border between Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. At the State Road 7 intersection, US 441 turns south towards Miami. The South Florida Fairgrounds and the Cruzan Amphitheater, where the South Florida Fair
South Florida Fair
The South Florida Fair is an annual fair held in West Palm Beach, Florida, every January or February. The fairgrounds site occupies and is located on the site of the former Palm Beach Speedway at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Fairground Road. It is set up to make it adjacent to the...
takes place, are next on the route, just east of SR 7. After passing Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
, it gains two more lanes and becomes an expressway, with diamond interchanges with Jog Road, Haverhill Road and Military Trail. East of Military Trail, it loses a lane in each direction as it straddles the southern end of Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport
Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available...
, where private aircraft are serviced, with commercial access to the airport available via SR 704A. It then intersects through I-95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
, becoming a four lane road in several older, high density neighborhoods in West Palm Beach. East of the Florida East Coast railroad bridge crossing, it intersects US 1 and SR 5, reducing to two lanes as it crosses Lake Worth Lagoon
Lake Worth Lagoon
The Lake Worth Lagoon is a lagoon located in Palm Beach County, Florida. It runs parallel to the coast, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier beaches, including Palm Beach Island. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by two permanent, man-made inlets.-Geography:Lake Worth...
on two bridges, and ending on a roundabout with FL A1A in Palm Beach near the Mar-A-Lago
Mar-A-Lago
Mar-A-Lago , built 1924-1927, is the name of the Marjorie Merriweather Post estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Post built the house with her husband, Edward F. Hutton. The house was designed by Joseph Urban. Upon her death in 1973 Marjorie Post willed the estate to the U.S. Government as a retreat...
estate.
History
The section from 20 Mile Bend to West Palm Beach was opened as Conners HighwayConners Highway
The Conners Highway was a privately built toll road from West Palm Beach, Florida to Okeechobee, Florida, and a free continuation of the road to Tampa, Florida. It cost $2 million to build across the swamps at the outskirts of the Everglades....
on July 4, 1924.
From 1923 to the 1945 renumbering
1945 Florida State Road renumbering
On June 11, 1945, Florida's state roads were renumbered. The old system numbered routes in the order they were legislated, while the new system used a grid.For more detailed information on where each road was, go to the corresponding page.-See also:...
, the road was known as State Road 25, and in the reassignment, the portion from US 41 in Fort Myers east to Palm Beach was transferred over to the new SR 80, with the sections of old SR 25 west of US 41 reassigned to SR 867
Florida State Road 867
State Road 867 and Lee County Road 867 together create a roadway in Lee County, Florida, connecting Punta Rassa and Fort Myers, Florida. The entire stretch used to be a State Road, but the southernmost have been redesignated County Road 867...
.
Until 2002, Palm Beach County's Southern Blvd. was a four lane road with a center left-turn lane, causing high gridlock due to the rapidly growing western suburbs of Loxahatchee, Royal Palm Beach and Wellington. The road was known as "Killer 80" due to its high fatality rate. In 2002, after many years of debate, the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
embarked on a $78 million project to upgrade and widen Southern Boulevard from I-95 to US 441/SR 7. Between 2003 and 2008, it was transformed into a limited-access highway with freeway-grade diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
s at the most congested intersections, with traffic signals remaining at others.
Future
In Hendry County, a project to improve and widen a two lane section between Hendry County Road 833 and US 27 is underway and is expected to be completed in 2012.The two bridges crossing Lake Worth Lagoon, built in 1950, are currently in the planning stages for replacement.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Destination | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Lee County, Florida Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral... |
Fort Myers Fort Myers, Florida Fort Myers is the county seat and commercial center of Lee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 62,298 in the 2010 census, a 29.23 percent increase over the 2000 figure.... |
0.00 | Western terminus | ||
| 5.69 | Exit 141 (I-75) | ||||
| 8.38 | |||||
| Hendry Hendry County, Florida Hendry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 36,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 39,611 . Its county seat is La Belle. The county comprises the Clewiston, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Hendry County... |
La Belle | 29.88 | Western end of SR 29 concurrency | ||
| 29.94 | Eastern end of SR 29 concurrency | ||||
| 52.24 | Western end of US 27 concurrency | ||||
| Palm Beach Palm Beach County, Florida Palm Beach County is the largest county in the state of Florida in total area, and third in population. As of 2010, the county's estimated population was 1,320,134, making it the twenty-eighth most populous in the United States... |
South Bay South Bay, Florida South Bay is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It is the westernmost municipality in the South Florida metropolitan area. The population was 3,859 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,506... |
77.20 | Eastern end of US 27 concurrency | ||
| 84.22 | Western end of US 441 concurrency | ||||
| 97.55 | Western end of US 98 concurrency | ||||
| Royal Palm Beach Royal Palm Beach, Florida Royal Palm Beach is a village in southeast Florida, located in Palm Beach County. The population was measured at 21,523 in the 2000 census. As of April 2008, the recorded population was 31,864... |
113.88 | Eastern end of US 441 concurrency, diamond interchange Diamond interchange A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge... |
|||
| West Palm Beach West Palm Beach, Florida West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida... |
116.11 | Exit 97 (Florida's Turnpike) | |||
| 119.46 | Diamond interchange | ||||
| 121.31 | Commercial Access to Palm Beach International Airport Palm Beach International Airport Palm Beach International Airport is a public airport located 3 nautical miles west of Palm Beach, Florida, in West Palm Beach, Florida, and serves Palm Beach County. The airport is operated and maintained by Palm Beach County Department of Airports. Road access to the airport is available... via SR 704A, diamond interchange |
||||
| 122.10 | Exit 68 (I-95) | ||||
| 123.03 | |||||
| 123.17 | |||||
| SR 80 crosses Lake Worth Lagoon Lake Worth Lagoon The Lake Worth Lagoon is a lagoon located in Palm Beach County, Florida. It runs parallel to the coast, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier beaches, including Palm Beach Island. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by two permanent, man-made inlets.-Geography:Lake Worth... |
|||||
| Palm Beach Palm Beach, Florida The Town of Palm Beach is an incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The Intracoastal Waterway separates it from the neighboring cities of West Palm Beach and Lake Worth... |
124.04 | Roundabout with SR A1A, eastern terminus | |||