The National Convention condemned the pledging of state gasoline tax revenues paid by highway users to guarantee payment of principal and interest on toll road bonds.” “The State Road Department’s OK of the Pike,” the AAA charged, “swamps public opinion.” The paper continued: “the national AAA joins swamp pike fight.” Under a Toronto, Canada, dateline: “The proposed two-lane toll road across the wilderness of Florida’s Everglades came under sizzling condemnation here (Toronto) at the Annual Convention of the AAA and its affiliate, the Canadian Association. In it, it quoted the Miami News: “Appropriate tag for Everglades Expressway, after Road Board’s approving action: ‘Chickee Quickee.’Ī Miami News cartoon had a cross-eyed Road Runner labeled “the State Road Department,” standing by its offspring, an odorous little skunk hatching out of an egg - labeled “‘Glades Parkway Road Plan.” The AAA went so far as to issue a unique Anti-Alligator Alley tabloid newspaper in which it reprinted much of the acrimonious argument denigrating the route. Newspapers of different communities already had their east coast – west coast connecting highways opposed. Petersburg, and other more northern west coast metropolitan areas wanted the existing Tamiami Trail to widen and improve. Never in Florida history had so many favored building a road, nor so many battled to prevent its construction, reported the Associated Press. Among some of the then-controlling Democratic officeholders and office-seekers contributed in part to Florida’s first Republican governor’s election since the days of Reconstruction.Īlligator Alley is the most controversial road ever built in Florida. ![]() ![]() The argument for and against, and the hard-feelings engendered. In the state election, some gubernatorial and other candidates seek to get on the opposition bandwagon for publicity purposes and attract the Dade County vote. The Alligator Alley argument set the city against the city. The AAA joined the then Miami Mayor, Robert King High, and the City of Miami to block the road, going to the Supreme Court. It’s director of public relations said the organization opposed toll roads and fought construction of the Alley since it was first conceived. The AAA plan to route its membership away from the road was announced in mid-August 1966. The AAA thought up the name of Alligator Alley to express supreme contempt for a road which it said was “designed with a flagrant disregard for essential safety that didn’t happen to where its proponents said it would go, and that charged a toll besides.” Before completing its re-engineering, Alligator Alley signed as State Road 84 it is now I-75, but it still has a concurrency with SR 84 designation was made concurrent with the I-75 designation, I-75 and SR 84 split again in Naples. Automobile drivers started paying $2.50 to cross, and now it is as high as $17.00 with a boat tow. It is still a toll road, but now a four-lane freeway. Although there is “no fuel” at this location, there are picnic areas with pavilions that make the Alligator Alley journey much more enjoyable.Īlligator Alley was initially built as a two-lane toll freeway connecting the two coasts of Florida and has become a very active recreation area connected to Interstate 75 as an east-west continuation of the highway. Can you turn around on Alligator Alley?Ī newly built recreation area along I-75(Alligator Alley), located about mile marker 35, provides viewing areas of the marshland that makes up Water Conservation Area 3 and is one of the only locations with restroom facilities, snack machines, and boat ramps. Sawgrass is the most abundant plant in the Everglades’ “River of Grass.” It grows 100 miles north and south from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico and 50 – 70 miles east to west. Which are on the Google maps located below? Coots are swimming along with the dense plants, a vast sawgrass expanse of Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA-3). Heading north on I-75 Alligator Alley, from Ft Lauderdale, there are many recreation areas along the way. ![]() But because I-75 starts down in Miami from the south and ends north near Ocala, it is considered north and southbound when crossing Alligator Alley. The marsh of Water Conservation Area 3 leaving Ft Lauderdale, driving to Naples, seems east-west. Take the time, step out from behind the vehicle window and see some of the alligators and sawgrass marshes found along Alligator Alley. Driving east to west along Alligator Alley, one travels through the populated Naples area with its manicured golf courses, Big Cypress Swamp’s wilderness, and the sawgrass marshes of Water Conservation Area 3, which extends to eastern Ft Lauderdale.Īlong the Alligator Alley, you may see wading birds in flight and at rest, and yes, alligators are along the canal banks adjacent to the highway. Alligator Alley (I-75) is one of the major east-west highways that cross South Florida.
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