Florida State Road 408/East-West Expressway (Florida's Turnpike east to FL 527)

One of the final major roadways I took on my recent Florida trip was Florida State Road 408/East-West Expressway from Florida's Turnpike east to FL 527 at Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando.

FL 408 is an approximately 22.1 mile limited access toll road facility entirely located in Orange County. FL 408 begins at Florida's Turnpike in Ocoee and heads eastward ending at the University of Central Florida just north of FL 50. FL 408 essentially serves as a limited access alternate to FL 50 on Colonial Drive and is by far the most common toll road I used when I lived in the Orlando Area circa 2014-2016. All but the westernmost mile of FL 408 is owned by the Central Florida Expressway Authority. Said final mile of FL 408 is owned by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise.

The initial segment of FL 408 was completed in 1973 which essentially was a loop to/from FL 50 near FL 435/Kirkman Road eastward past FL 551/Goldenrod Road. The eastern segment of FL 408 to UCF was completed in 1989 while the western connection to Florida's Turnpike was complete by 1990. Potential future plans for FL 408 may take it the junction of FL 50/FL 520 or even as far east as I-95.

My approach to FL 408 eastbound was from Florida's Turnpike southbound. FL 408 east begins by crossing over Florida's Turnpike and under it's westbound ramp to the Turnpike southbound.

From Florida's Turnpike the route of FL 408 has Orlando signed 10 miles to the east.

FL 408 east Exit 2 accesses Good Homes Road (which I think is an awful name).

E-Pass and SunPass are accepted on FL 408 for pre-paid tolls. Given I was in a rental car out of Tampa I wasn't sure if my coverage area covered Orlando (my SunPass died years ago). That being case I pulled over the pull-out toll booths and paid the $1 dollar cash toll.

FL 408 east Exit 4 accesses Hiawassee Road.

FL 408 east Exit 5 accesses FL 435/Kirkman Road.

East of FL 435 there is a $1.25 at the next toll gantry on FL 408.

FL 423/John Young Parkway is accessible from FL 408 Exit 8A while Tampa Avenue is accessible from Exit 8B.

FL 408 east Exit 9 accesses US 17/92/441 on Orange Blossom Trail.

FL 408 east Exits 10A & B access I-4 in downtown Orlando. Approaching I-4 the new Stack Interchange can be seen under construction which is part of the current I-4 Ultimate Project.

FL 527/Orange Avenue is accessed from FL 408 Exit 10C. FL 408 east crosses below the new Stack Interchange before the exit onto Orange Avenue.

Interestingly Exit 10C descending to Orange Avenue is one of the few places that FL 527 is still visibly signed.

Comments

Abandoned US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon

Within the Truckee River Canyon in the Sierra Nevada range numerous abandoned portions of US Route 40 can be found alongside modern Interstate 80. This segment of highway was opened during 1926 as a bypass of the Dog Valley Grade which carried the early North Lincoln Highway and Victory Highway. The corridor of the Truckee River Canyon State Highway would be assigned as US Route 40 when the US Route System was commissioned during November 1926. During 1958 the segment of Interstate 80 between Boca, California and the Nevada state line was complete. When Interstate 80 opened east of Boca numerous obsolete portions of US Route 40 were abandoned. Some of these abandoned segments have been incorporated into the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail. Part 1; the history of US Route 40 in the Truckee River Canyon The Truckee River Canyon for centuries has been an established corridor of travel known to native tribes crossing the Sierra Nevada range. The first documented wagon crossi...

Former California State Route 41 past Bates Station

When California State Route 41 was commissioned during August 1934 it was aligned along the then existing Fresno-Yosemite Road north of the San Joaquin River. Within the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, the original highway alignment ran past Bates Station via what is now Madera County Road 209, part of eastern Road 406 and Road 207. Bates Station was a stage station plotted during the early 1880s at what was the intersection of the Coarsegold Road and Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The modern alignment bypassing Bates Station to the east would be reopened to traffic during late 1939. Part 1; the history of California State Route 41 past Bates Station Bates Station was featured as one of the many 1875-1899 Madera County era towns in the May 21, 1968, Madera Tribune . Post Office Service at Bates Station is noted to have been established on November 23, 1883 and ran continuously until October 31, 1903. The postal name was sourced...

The William Flinn (not Flynn) Highway - Pittsburgh's Misspelled Street

For decades if you traveled along PA Route 8 in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs, you would have noticed signs that read "William Flynn Highway" at every intersection. Even today, many businesses and residences have their addresses listed as XXXX William Flynn Highway. However, it's not William Flynn Highway, it is William FLINN Highway - and the gentleman who it is named for has a long and storied past in Pittsburgh's infrastructure history. William Flinn was born in England in 1851; however later that year, his family emigrated to the United States and would settle in Pittsburgh. A 10-year-old school dropout, Flinn grew interested in politics and would join the Allegheny County Republican Party in 1877 as a ward commissioner and a seat on the Board of Fire Commissioners. Flinn would serve in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives and Senate from 1877 to 1902. (1) Flinn along with James J. Booth would found the Booth and Flinn construction firm ...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog