This work/website/life thing is turning out to be more challenging than I had initially thought. So as I stumble a little bit and try to regain my balance -- heh, ankle joke -- please bear with me until Ernie Gets His Groove Back. In the meantime, we've pulled to within $4,000 of our goal over at LBEH -- which is where I've been focusing a significant portion of my time as well -- so please, if you can kick a few bucks into the coffers to get us past the goal line, I know a fistful of Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen who would sure appreciate it. And as a reminder, your donations are 100% tax deductible.
The Alligator Alley segment of I-75 previously existed as a two-lane tollway connecting the two coasts of Florida. Initially known as Everglades Parkway, it opened for traffic on February 11, 1968 after four years of construction. The name "Alligator Alley" was given by the American Automobile Association while it was planned since they believed it would be useless to cars, merely an "alley for alligators". However, as alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, and occasionally the road itself, the nickname has developed a somewhat literal meaning. The state would officially adopt the Alligator Alley name in 1966. Along I-75 are 8 pairs of rest areas along the length of the freeway. In addition, there are separate facilities for each direction of I-75 in Hamilton and Suwannee counties, southbound and northbound, respectively, and a welcome center south of the state line. Each rest area has rest rooms, vending machines, picnic tables, dog walk areas, and nighttime security. The welcome center also has travel information and free orange juice.
|