Florida State Road 404

State Road 404 (SR 404), the Pineda Causeway, is an east–west divided highway currently running from Interstate 95 (I-95) to SR A1A at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, US. It was opened as a toll road in 1971 and classified as a state road two years later. The tolls were removed in 1990. It was named after Pineda, a former village east of Suntree on U.S. Route 1 (US 1). With interchanges at US 1 (SR 5), South Tropical Trail (Brevard County Road 3, CR 3), and South Patrick Drive (SR 513), the Pineda Causeway is (along with SR A1A) the primary access for Patrick Air Force Base and the southern end of Merritt Island. From US 1 to the eastern terminus, it is part of the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway system.

Route description

From I-95, the Pineda Causeway Extension passes between developments to its north and south. After an intersection with a local road, the route curves to the northeast and later resumes its eastward course, reaching Wickham Road.^[1] The route turns to the east and moves across the Florida East Coast Railway.^[1]

East of the railway, the route crosses below US 1. The eastbound lane has an exit ramp that connects to both directions of US 1; in contrast, the westbound lane has a dedicated exit for both US 1 northbound and a loop to US 1 southbound. The road continues to the east, crossing a small inlet and a small island before ascending over the Indian River with twin bridges. At the eastern end of the bridges, the route again crosses a small island and inlet before reaching a narrow portion of Merritt Island. There, the causeway intersects with CR 3. The route crosses a series of islands, forming another twin set of bridges over the Banana River. After reaching land for the final time, the route enters South Patrick Shores. It has a partial interchange with SR 513, with only an eastbound exit and a westbound entrance. After passing north of a housing development, the causeway ends at an intersection with SR A1A.^[1]

Along the causeway east of the extension, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) estimated that 37,500 cars drove on the route each day.^[2]

History

Due to high traffic involving the Kennedy Space Center and Patrick Air Force Base in eastern Brevard County, local politicians in the early 1960s petitioned the United States Bureau of Public Roads for federal funding in creating a new causeway across the Banana River, between the Eau Gallie Causeway and SR 520. Although the federal agency declined twice due to low traffic projections, local officials maintained the need for the proposed causeway.^[3] In November 1969, after FDOT opened bids for various state construction projects, the Gregg, Gibson & Gregg Inc. put out a $7.7 million estimate to build the causeway from US 1 to the eastern shore of the Banana River.^[4] Ultimately, the original Pineda Causeway was opened in 1972, costing about $7 million to construct.^[5] In the previous year, the route's interchanges with US 1 and CR 3, as well as the bridges, were completed. In 1972, the interchange with SR 513 was finished.^[6] On May 31, 1973, FDOT classified the bridge and causeway as State Route 404.^[7]

Initially it was a toll road, which funded the road's maintenance. However, FDOT agreed in 1989 to remove the fee and pay for maintenance. In June 1990, workers removed the toll along the Pineda Causeway, along with the Bennett Causeway to the north, at a cost of $745,000.^[5] The interchange with U.S. 1, which was first built in 1971, was reconstructed in 1997.^[6] In 1999, the route became part of the newly-created Indian River Lagoon Scenic Highway, which was a series of roads around the Indian River Lagoon.^[8]

In conjunction with a project to add additional lanes to I-95, FDOT authorized funding in March 2008 to create an interchange with an extension of the Pineda Causeway. The two projects were estimated to cost $202 million upon completion. On May 2, 2011, the interchange with I-95 opened.^[9] FDOT also authorized $10 million to complete the extension from the interchange to its original routing.^[10] The overall cost of the extension was estimated at $27 million, of which the remainder not financed by FDOT was paid by impact fee and gas tax. Groundbreaking for the extension occurred on December 14, 2007,^[11] and the project was finished in 2011.^[10] This created a 1.9 mi (3.1 km) extension of the highway after decades of planning; once finished, it became a hurricane evacuation route. The project was expected to aid the local economy due to ease of travel from I-95 to the beach.^[12]

In October 2011, five Brevard County commissioners voted to consider the option of purchasing right-of-way and creating an overpass for the causeway over the Florida East Coast Railway line, located just west of US 1. Although there were no immediate plans for such a construction project, the vote allowed for the maintenance of funding, instead of FDOT transferring the money to other projects.^[13]

Major intersections

The entire route is in Brevard County.

References