Miami-Dade County

Miami highways used to look like that? See the photos of I-95, Turnpike and Palmetto

By Miami Herald Archives
The spaghetti of roads at Interstate 95 at I-395 near Overtown and downtown Miami in 1993.
The spaghetti of roads at Interstate 95 at I-395 near Overtown and downtown Miami in 1993. Jeffery A. Salter Miami Herald File

What do drivers see on South Florida highways these days?

No doubt a mass of cars. What else is there with all those backups on I-95 and the Palmetto because of rush hour (which seems to last all day and night) or a crash or breakdown?

But there was once a time when these highways were new and free-flowing. Traffic moved swiftly across the relatively empty pavement.

So what did the Palmetto, I-95 and Florida’s Turnpike look like in the early days?

Let’s take a look through the Miami Herald photo archives:

PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY

The Palmetto Expressway in 1969, looking north near Tropical Park.
The Palmetto Expressway in 1969, looking north near Tropical Park. Bill Kuenzel Miami Herald File


Palmetto Expressway in 1964.
Palmetto Expressway in 1964. Miami Herald File
The Palmetto Expressway in 1961.
The Palmetto Expressway in 1961. Bill Stapleton Miami Herald File
What the Palmetto Expressway looked like in 1960.
What the Palmetto Expressway looked like in 1960. Mike Freeman Miami Herald File
What the Palmetto looked like in 1977.
What the Palmetto looked like in 1977. Miami Herald File
Widening of Palmetto Highway Expressway in 1973.
Widening of Palmetto Highway Expressway in 1973. Miami Herald File
Action in 1960 at the southern end of the Palmetto Expressway as piles go down for a crossing at North Kendall Drive.
Action in 1960 at the southern end of the Palmetto Expressway as piles go down for a crossing at North Kendall Drive. Bob East Miami Herald File

INTERSTATE 95

View of downtown Miami skyline in 1972 from 836 and I-95.
View of downtown Miami skyline in 1972 from 836 and I-95. Miami Herald File
A highway trooper checks a taxi used as a bank robbery getaway car, on I-95 at Northwest 75th Street in 1989.
A highway trooper checks a taxi used as a bank robbery getaway car, on I-95 at Northwest 75th Street in 1989. Jon Kral Miami Herald File
An Orlando man tries hitch-hiking back home from I-95 and 395 cutoff in 1979.
An Orlando man tries hitch-hiking back home from I-95 and 395 cutoff in 1979. Bruce Gilbert Miami Herald File
The spaghetti of roads at Interstate 95 at I-395 near Overtown and downtown Miami in 1993.
The spaghetti of roads at Interstate 95 at I-395 near Overtown and downtown Miami in 1993. Jeffery A. Salter Miami Herald File

FLORIDA’S TURNPIKE

A sign at the entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957.
A sign at the entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957. Miami Herald File
The grand opening of the Golden Glades entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957.
The grand opening of the Golden Glades entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957. Miami Herald File
The Pompano Beach plaza area on Florida’s Turnpike in 1957.
The Pompano Beach plaza area on Florida’s Turnpike in 1957. Miami Herald File
A gigantic bucketed drag line picks up about 20 yards of native oolite at a time in rock pit near the Hialeah Gardens exit of new turnpike extension in 1974.
A gigantic bucketed drag line picks up about 20 yards of native oolite at a time in rock pit near the Hialeah Gardens exit of new turnpike extension in 1974. Bob East Miami Herald File
The Golden Glades entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957.
The Golden Glades entrance to Florida’s Turnpike in 1957. Miami Herald File

This story was originally published May 21, 2024 at 9:21 AM.

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