SR 589 (Veterans Expressway) 

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise sought professional engineering design services for the widening of a 2.5-mile stretch of limited access AET toll facility with express lanes from a 4-lane to an 8-lane section on SR 589 from Memorial Highway to north of Barry Road.  The project consisted of various traffic operations design to improve vehicular traffic flow. The proximity to the Tampa International Airport required reduced mounting heights for roadway lighting and restrictions on sign structure locations. 

DRMP’s traffic engineering team assisted in the design which included complex MOT plans, roadway, drainage, environmental permitting, signals, signing and pavement markings, ITS, lighting, toll plazas, landscaping and structural design of two bridge sites (a 2-span continuous steel plate girder bridge and a 3-span AASHTO beam bridge using the new Florida I-Beam). FAA coordination was also key to the project as the mounting heights for each light pole had to be reviewed and approved.  By reducing the light pole spacing, designing special light pole foundations and tilting the luminaires DRMP was able to meet and exceed all FDOT criteria. 

The lighting of SR 589 was improved to provide drivers with increased visibility during the night. The widened highway has increased traffic capacity which has led to reduced commuter frustration. Signing and pavement markings have brought more traffic pattern awareness to motorists.