The Sun-Sentinel has a story today in today’s print edition about congestion on Glades Road and State Road 7 (aka US 441). The article talks about technology changes that might make intersections more efficient, and indicates that there are no plans to widen either road nor to install bus lanes.
We were not able to find an official source for the Sun-Sentinel’s story.
Here’s a graphic from the Florida Department of Transportation showing various projects that are under way or in progress. Click on the image to enlarge it.
The pdf of that is here: FDOT PDF of Glades Road
Some of the article seems confused, making the reader wonder if the reporter looked at a map. For example, one driver is described as avoiding Glades when driving from Deerfield Beach to Palm Beach County, using Federal Highway instead. Glades runs east-west while Federal Highway runs north-south.
There are obvious reasons for drivers to avoid these roads that have nothing to do with technology or road width. Glades is often slower than other east-west roads because it has extra intersections and more traffic. In West Boca that includes the Shadowood/Westwinds light, the 95th Avenue (JCC/Library) light, and especially the extra lights at Boca Rio and the Turnpike. Going further east there is often heavy traffic by Town Center. People going east-west will often take Yamato, which has fewer lights, or Palmetto which has fewer lights and a higher speed limit.
Similarly for 441, there are a number of annoying lights at minor intersections such as Kimberly/Boca Greens, SW 3rd, Judge Winikoff, and Sandalfoot, and the Hillsboro light in Coconut Creek can be painfully slow. West of 441, Cain Road is a more pleasant ride between Boca Chase (and Clint Moore) and Glades. East of 441 Lyons Road and Boca Rio tend to be quicker and more relaxing than 441.
