Florida State Road 7

State Road 7
Route information
Maintained byFDOT
Length	70.066 mi(112.760 km)
Existed	1945 renumbering(definition)–present
Major junctions
South end	US 41inMiami
Major intersections	US 441from Miami toRoyal Palm Beach I-95/SR 826/Florida's TurnpikeinGolden Glades I-595/SR 84/Florida's TurnpikeinDavie US 98/SR 80in Royal Palm Beach
North end	60th Street inLoxahatchee
Location
Country	United States
State	Florida
Counties	Miami-Dade,Broward,Palm Beach
Highway system
Florida State Highway System Interstate US State Former Pre‑1945 Toll Scenic
←SR 6 →SR 8

Florida State Road 7(SR 7) is a major north–south artery in South Florida connectingU.S. Highway 41(US 41; unsignedSR 90) in theLittle Havanasection ofMiamiwith 60th Street inLoxahatchee.All but the northernmost 6.5 miles (10.5 km) (in and nearRoyal Palm Beach) is instead (or additionally) signed asUS 441,and has been since 1950.

Route description

Miami-Dade

The state road begins at US 41, which is also the national southern terminus of US 441. The road inMiami-Dade Countyis only signed as US 441, with no indication of SR 7 anywhere. It is labeled Northwest 2nd Avenue north of theGolden Glades Interchangeand Northwest 7th Avenue from the interchange south to theMiami River,after which it continues another dozen blocks to US 41 as Northwest and Southwest 8th Avenues.

In the city ofMiami Gardens,a 0.358 mile frontage road runs along the southbound side of State Road 7 just south of Northwest 199th Street and ending at Northwest 193rd Street. This road carries the hidden designation ofState Road 7F.

Broward

InBroward County,the road is only signed as US 441, but is indicated as "State Road 7" on green street signs when approaching the road from cross streets. From the Miami-Dade County line north to Stirling Road inHollywood,it is also known as South 60th Avenue. In addition, Broward County addresses along the route show references to "State Road 7" and residents refer to the road as both "441" and "State Road 7". Many locations along State Road 7 in the cities ofPlantation,LauderhillandLauderdale Lakesare addressed as "SW/NW 40th Avenue".

Palm Beach

ThePalm Beach Countystretch of US 441 / SR 7 features signs with both designations. Older maps also have the designation of "Range Line Road". InRoyal Palm Beach,US 441 leaves the SR 7 indication behind, making a westward turn and overlappingUS 98/SR 80) as it approachesBelle Gladeon the shore ofLake Okeechobee.The state road continues north, intersectingSR 704,and ends temporarily at 60th Street North near the Pond Cypress Natural Area. It picks up again south ofCR 809A,heading north to terminate at Northlake Boulevard. The segment north of SR 704, currently maintained byPalm Beach County,is set to be transferred to theFlorida Department of Transportationin a road swap forSR 850andSR 845within the county limits.

History

In 2009, part of a long-awaited northern extension opened with a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) stretch from SR 704 to Persimmon Boulevard inThe Acreage.Future plans have the road extending another four miles north toNorthlake BoulevardnearPalm Beach Gardens,but it was not anticipated to be completed until 2015.About3⁄4mile (1.2 km) has already been built at the Northlake Boulevard end, and is marked on street signs as State Road 7.

Controversy

Environmental groups argue that the extension of SR 7 just west of theGrassy Watersenvironmental preserve in Palm Beach County, also the source of the drinking water supply for theWest Palm Beachregion, threatens to damage critical habitat for several endangered species including theEverglades Snail Kite.As of 2005, only about 1,300 of the hawks were known to still be extant.Because of the potential impact on nesting Snail Kites and their habitat, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been urging the Florida Department of Transportation, since 2005, to reconsider the road placement through Grassy Waters Preserve. In its Biological Opinion issued on 13 November 2014, the USFWS stated "While the Service finds the project is unlikely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Everglade snail kite, based on the current small size of the snail kite population and the unknown, and potentially significant, effects of the project on the Everglade snail kite, the Service continues to urge the FDOT to eliminate the proposed corridor for the project and either adopt the “no build” alternative for the proposed roadway extension, or choose an alternative that does not impact the PCNA or GWP - such as an alignment west of the Ibis development. "The Audubon Society lists the Snail Kite population as being in trouble since much of its habitat has been drained and remaining parts inundated to improper water levels needed to sustain the Apple snails on which it feeds.The SR7 expansion will exacerbate both issues by destroying habitat and changing water levels in the habitat bordering the road.

Major intersections

For the sections concurrent with U.S. Route 441, seeU.S. Route 441 in Florida § Major intersections.

County	Location	mi	km	Destinations	Notes
Palm Beach	Royal Palm Beach	63.580	102.322	US 98/US 441north /SR 80(Southern Boulevard) toFlorida's Turnpike/I-95–Royal Palm Beach,Belle Glade,West Palm Beach	Interchange; north end ofconcurrencywith US 441
		65.556	105.502	SR 704east (Okeechobee Boulevard) toFlorida's Turnpike/I-95–Royal Palm Beach,West Palm Beach	West end of SR 704
	The Acreage	68.966	110.990	Permission Boulevard
	Loxahatchee	70.066	112.760	60th Street North	Temporary northern terminus
	Palm Beach Gardens	74.150	119.333	CR 809A(Northlake Boulevard)	Proposed northern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi Concurrencyterminus Unopened

External links

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