Golden Glades Interchange (GGI) Improvements Environmental Permitting

As an in-house FDOT D6 environmental permitting consultant, WGI was tasked with obtaining environmental permits to authorize this $633M construction roadway interchange and drainage improvements project spanning over 10 miles. The GGI is of regional importance, providing connectivity to 5 major principal arterials and limited access expressway facilities, including Interstate 95 (I-95), SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway), Florida’s Turnpike, SR 9 and SR 7/US 441 and also supports the 95 Express Managed Lanes system and the Golden Glades Multimodal Facility, which provides access to inter-county transit services. The project underwent a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study in 2014 and received conceptual permitting approval in June 2018.WGI’s environmental permitting experts successfully obtained an SFWMD Individual ERP construction permit under a combined permit approach and one application package for all seven segments due to the complex interconnectivity of the surface water management systems and begin and end segment termini, in addition to obtaining a combined FDEP Individual State 404 Permit, a combined DERM Class II Permit for off-system drainage with stormwater outfall discharge to the C-8 Canal, three SFWMD ROW Permits and associated USACE Section 408 Approval to facilitate replacement and widening of the I-95 NB and SB and NW 6th Ave bridges including new piles, rip rap embankment stabilization, and major stormwater outfall removals and new installations. A large FGT gas pipeline utility conflict complicated the GGI ultimate design condition. An innovative combined permit approach was utilized to streamline permitting for this complex multi-segmental project.

Project Highlights:

• The GGI was the biggest FDOT Design-Bid-Build project in the history of the State of Florida.