Getting around

Dr. Detour helps you navigate South Florida’s roads.

Dr. Detour will help you find your way on South Florida's exasperating roads. Look for the column on Mondays.

Q: Why did they chop down so many trees along Interstate 95? — Kristin Jacobs, Coconut Creek.

A: As part of the 95 Express project, about 4,000 trees in construction zones were destroyed to make way for road widening, drainage and other work on I-95 between Broward Boulevard and Southwest 10th Street.

About 1,300 native trees were uprooted and moved so they could be replanted near the interchanges at Oakland Park and Atlantic boulevards, and Cypress Creek, Copans, and Sample roads. Pompano Beach accepted nearly 100 of them for replanting around the city.

More than $5 million worth of landscaping is expected to be added after the 95 Express project is completed, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Q: Why were there no Interstate 75 entrance or exit ramps built for the new Pembroke Road overpass? — Mike Fonticoba, Miramar. A: It took more than 20 years to find the money needed to get the overpass built and it was primarily designed to relieve traffic congestion on the neighboring Pines Boulevard and Miramar Parkway overpasses.

Before the $8 million, two-year Pembroke Road construction project was completed in September, Pines Boulevard handled more than 3,800 vehicles per hour at peak travel times and Miramar Parkway had at least 2,000 per rush-hour, city officials said.

Other rampless overpasses include Bass Creek and Stirling roads, and Southwest 14th and 36th streets. Follow up: Happy ending for snowbird

Last week we reported winter resident Noella Hebert of Dania Beach was worried after driving in the I-95 toll lanes thinking they were still free HOV carpool lanes. She has Quebec license plates and no SunPass transponder. Hebert took our advice, contacted FDOT customer service at 1-888-865-5352, told her story, and the toll was waived.

“They said, ‘I can forget about it,’ ” she said. “So, thanks to you.”

Send your questions to: transportation@sun-sentinel.com.

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