At last! Expressway link coming our way

It may be seven more years before South Florida commuters can use the missing link between the Sawgrass Expressway and Interstate 95.

But that’s nothing compared to the 30 years frustrated commuters have waited for something to be done about connecting the highways.

That’s how long drivers have had to traverse Southwest 10th Street in Deerfield Beach for three miles and eight stoplights to get between I-95 and the Sawgrass Expressway/Florida’s Turnpike.

Finally, for the first time since the Reagan administration was in power, relief may be on the way. Even if it takes another seven years to see the final product.

This week, the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization voted in favor of an 18-point plan to expand Southwest 10th Street, and ease traffic — particularly at rush hour — on a road that handles more than 45,000 motorists a day going between highways. That’s 50 percent more cars than the road was designed to handle during peak hours. How big a deal is that for South Florida? “This is monumental,” said Gregory Stuart, executive director of the Broward MPO.

“This is the one missing link in the South Florida transportation plan,” said Larry Vignola, a Coral Springs commissioner and also an MPO member.

After a handful of false starts over the years to get the link built, this time it appears the effort has worked. The project could cost $500 million or more, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. But everyone involved seems convinced the money will be there.

And objections to the link from Deerfield Beach residents, which caused so many years of delay, have apparently been eased to the satisfaction of most people involved.

When the Sawgrass Expressway opened in 1986, the connection was part of the plans. But Deerfield Beach residents, particularly those at politically powerful Century Village, vehemently opposed the road that would have cut through the development. They opposed the noise, and they were concerned about additional traffic making it difficult to access homes and businesses.

But eventually Southwest 10th Street just couldn’t handle all the traffic. At rush hours, it often could take half an hour to drive the three miles between highways.

Several plans were offered up in previous years, and numerous studies were done. But the 18-point plan revealed this week looks like it will work.

After all the environmental studies and meetings and other bureaucratic hoops, this week’s 18-point plan should eventually help one of South Florida’s biggest traffic snarls.

When the project is finished, Southwest 10th Street will still exist. But there will be below grade express lanes going right down the middle of the street, enabling commuters to travel between the highways with a minimum of delays. There will also be improved traffic signal timing at the eight stoplights on the road for those who will travel Southwest 10th to get to their homes or businesses. Soundproofing of walls and landscaping improvements could also be part of the final plan. There are no plans to put a bridge over the road.

With luck, work could start within two years after all the impact studies, etc., are finished. Leaders from various cities worked together for years on this project, and eventually residents, commuters and businesses will reap the benefits of something that should have happened 30 years ago.

“(When the project is finished), a lot of people will be able to do more things,” Vignola told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board. “They won’t have to spend a half hour extra in traffic.

“This is going to happen. There is no backing down now.”

We’re at seven years away and counting.