Alligator Alley

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For other uses, see Alligator Alley (disambiguation).

Alligator Alley (also known as Everglades Parkway <ref>Alligator Alley Story. Retrieved on July 3, 2006.</ref>) is a section of Interstate 75 (Florida State Route 93) extending from Naples on the west coast of Florida to Weston on the east. First opened in 1969<ref>South Florida Roads. Retrieved on July 3, 2006.</ref> most of the highway traverses the Everglades.

It was originally built as a two-lane freeway connecting the two coasts of Florida, and was later connected to Interstate 75 as an east-west continuation of the highway, which otherwise ran north and south. It is still a toll road, with automobile drivers paying $2.50 each to use the road. Before the completion of its re-engineering, Alligator Alley was signed as State Road 84; the ends that were not redesignated I-75 still retain the State Road 84 signage. The Interstate 75 signs on Alligator Alley were not erected until 1993, and the SR 84 designation was dropped in favor of Interstate 75's usual hidden designation, State Road 93.

Between 1986 and 1992 it was widened to four lanes, with many bridges designed to let water and wildlife pass underneath. This helped to reduce the environmental impact of the highway somewhat, especially upon the severely endangered Florida panther.

The name was given by the American Automobile Association during planning; they believed it would be a useless road, an "alley for alligators". However, since alligators often frequent the waterways beside the road, the nickname has a somewhat literal meaning.