Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike

Infobox FL State Road
shields=
name=Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike
type=toll
route=821
length_mi=47.86 [http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/statistics/gis/default.htm FDOT GIS data] ]
length_km=77.02
formed=1974
dir1=South
from=Jct|state=FL|US|1 in Florida City
junction=Jct|state=FL|Toll|874 in Kendall
Jct|state=FL|Toll|836 near Sweetwater
Jct|state=FL|I|75 near Miramar
dir2=North
to=Jct|state=FL|FLTP| in Miramar
previous_type=SR
previous_route=820
next_type=SR
next_route=822

Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike (HEFT), assigned the State Road 821 (SR 821) designation by the Florida Department of Transportation, is a southern extension of the tolled Florida's Turnpike, running around the north and west sides of the Miami area to end at Florida City (near Homestead). It was built in 1974, after the main line of the Turnpike was completed, and is used by both commuters and travelers to the Florida Keys and Everglades. Due to its path, it acts as a "de facto" outer beltway for Miami.

The HEFT has always used mile-based exit numbers and a coin system of tolls, and has in part been responsible for changes to those systems on the rest of the Turnpike. Unlike the rest of the Turnpike, with tolls every 45 miles on average, the extension has tolls every 12 miles, with a much higher traffic load. Unlike other Florida's Turnpike Enterprise highways, it is treated as if it were part of the main line Florida's Turnpike highway by highway signs and exit numbers, despite its separate state route number.

The portion of the HEFT between Exits 11 (Cutler Ridge Boulevard) and 16 (State Road 992) was designated the "John F. Cosgrove Highway" in 2007 by the Florida Legislature. A lawyer and former legislator, Cosgrove was also the first mayor of Cutler Bay, a city along the HEFT. He was instrumental in passing legislation to keep insurers from leaving the state following Hurricane Andrew. The designation came following his death in 2006.

Exit list

References

External links

* [http://www.floridasturnpike.com/maps/UpdatedMaps2006/heft.pdf Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike] Route Map (PDF)