Atlantic Boulevard lanes undergoing repaving

Michael Turnbell | TRANSPORTATION COLUMNIST

July 6, 2008

Q A westbound left turn lane from Atlantic Boulevard to southbound Powerline Road in Pompano Beach is blocked, but I don't see any construction in the area. A southbound lane on Powerline also is blocked. Is this in anticipation of a future project?

Mark Grossman, Delray Beach

A: The state just started a $5.1 million job to repave Powerline from Northwest 58th Court to Atlantic Boulevard.

Michael Turnbell E-mail | Recent columns

Powerline has a northbound lane closed approaching Atlantic, along with a northbound and southbound left turn lane to Atlantic.

Completion is set for early 2009.

Q When will there be a SunPass-only lane designated at the Okeechobee Boulevard exit on Florida's Turnpike in West Palm Beach?

Carol Ruggeri, Boca Raton

A: A SunPass-only exit ramp is being considered from the northbound turnpike to eastbound Okeechobee Boulevard that would bypass the toll plaza. But it's being studied in conjunction with a much bigger plan to widen the turnpike in both directions between Okeechobee Boulevard and PGA Boulevard.

There's no timetable for the project, which might not get built until 2022.

So why isn't there a dedicated SunPass lane now? The issue is lack of space at the existing toll plaza and the plaza's close proximity to the Okeechobee intersection.

Q Who is responsible for paying to clean up the road after an accident? I was involved in an accident on Interstate 95 in Duval County in which my insurance paid for the towing of my car. By the time an officer had written a crash report, the road was cleared of any debris and my vehicle had been towed. My insurance company paid for the tow. I recently received a letter from Jorgensen Contract Services claiming the company has a contract with the state and has the authority to charge me $705 for cleaning up the accident. The bill seems disproportionate to the level of cleanup performed.

Donna Ballo, St. Augustine

A: Jorgensen handles maintenance on interstates in the Jacksonville area. That includes everything from mowing to filling potholes to cleaning up after accidents.

The company is authorized by the state to go after reimbursement for any expenses incurred in the cleanup or damage to state property.

If you want to dispute the bill, have your insurance company contact Jorgensen or the Florida Department of Transportation.

In Broward and Palm Beach counties, the state has a private contractor that handles maintenance on I-75, U.S. 27, Federal Highway, all Intracoastal Waterway bridges and state roads that lead to the beach.

The contractor can bill motorists or their insurance company if state property, such as a guardrail, is damaged, said DOT spokeswoman Barbara Kelleher.

On other major highways in South Florida, such as I-95 and I-595, the Road Rangers service patrol handles minor accident cleanup. Private firms usually are brought in if accidents involve commercial big rigs and require mopping up fuel spills or cleaning up contaminated soil. In the latter case, the company may send the bill to the driver's employer or insurance company.