Alligator Alley

For other uses, see Alligator Alley (disambiguation).

Alligator Alley
Everglades Parkway
Route information
Maintained by FDOT
Length:	84.28 mi (135.64 km)
Existed:	1969 – present
Major junctions
West end:	CR 951 near East Naples
	SR 29 near Immokalee
East end:	US 27 in Weston
Highway system
Main route of the Interstate Highway System Main • Auxiliary • Business Florida State Roads Interstate • US • SR (Pre-1945) • Toll

Alligator Alley (also known as Everglades Parkway) is a section of Interstate 75 (State Road 93) and State Road 84 extending from Naples on the west coast of Florida to Weston on the east. First opened in 1969, most of the highway traverses the Everglades.

The name was given by the American Automobile Association during planning; they believed it would be a useless road, an alley for alligators. However, as alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, and occasionally the road itself, the nickname has a somewhat literal meaning.

Route description

Currently, automobile drivers pay a $2.50 toll ($2.00 for SunPass users) both eastbound and westbound, and it is one of only three tolled sections of Interstate 75. There are two exits along the roadway, neither of which charges a toll to enter or exit the highway.

History

It was originally built by H. L. Mills Construction Company as a two-lane tollway connecting the two coasts of Florida, as a part of State Road 84 (which is currently the hidden designation of the highway). After it was determined that I-75 was using this route for the Tampa-Miami extension instead of the Tamiami Trail in 1973, it was widened to four lanes between 1986 and 1992, with many bridges designed to let water and wildlife pass underneath. This helped to reduce the environmental impact of the highway somewhat, especially upon the severely endangered Florida panther, as well as reducing the danger of the highway, which was notorious for high-speed accidents.

A state effort to privatize Alligator Alley failed in May 2009 when no bids were received for the highway that met the required terms.

In January, 2000, the west end toll plaza of Alligator Alley was dedicated to the memory of Edward J. Beck, a toll taker who was murdered while on the job, January 30, 1974.

Rest areas

Looking East at Alligator Alley from Recreation Area and Rest Stop at I-75 and Miami Canal

Interstate 75 shield with east–west plates instead of north–south

• Broward County – Rest Area half-way between Exits 23 & 49 at mile marker 35. BSO Fire Station 106 is located next to the rest area.
• Collier County – Rest Area half-way between Exits 49 & 80 at mile marker 63

Exit list

Note: Mileage is based on I-75 mileage.

County	Location	Mile	#		Destinations	Notes
			Old	New
Collier		101.284	15	101	CR 951 (Collier Boulevard) to SR 84 – Naples, Marco Island	Western terminus
		(100)	Toll Plaza ($2.50 Eastbound, $2.00 with SunPass)
		80.048	14A	80	SR 29 – Immokalee
Broward	Miccosukee Indian Reservation	49.428	14	49	CR 833 (Snake Road)
		(26)	Toll Plaza ($2.50 Westbound, $2.00 with SunPass)
	Weston	23.494	13A-B	23	US 27 – Miami, South Bay	Eastern terminus