Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU) is Florida’s innovative strategy to increase traffic capacity during major hurricane evacuations
Emergency Shoulder Use (ESU) is Florida’s innovative strategy to increase traffic capacity during major hurricane evacuations using existing paved shoulders.
First developed in 2017 and covering key corridors within the state, ESU plans replace the former one-way plans, also known as contraflow and lane reversal. ESU plans are reviewed annually.
For the 2021 season, plans cover the following roadway segments. Interstate 4 – Eastbound from US 41 in Tampa (Hillsborough) to SR 417 in Celebration (Osceola) Interstate 10 – Westbound from US 301 in Jacksonville (Duval) to US 319 in Tallahassee (Leon) Interstate 75 – Northbound from SR 951 in Naples (Collier) to SR 143 in Jennings (Hamilton) Interstate 75 Alligator Alley – Northbound from US 27 in Weston (Broward) to SR 951 in Naples (Collier) – Southbound from SR 951 in Naples (Collier) to US 27 in Weston (Broward)
Interstate 95 – Northbound from SR 706 in Jupiter (Palm Beach) to south of Interstate 295 in Jacksonville (Duval) Northbound from Airport Road in Jacksonville (Duval) to the Florida-Georgia state line (Nassau) Florida’s Turnpike – Northbound from south of Hypoluxo Road in Boynton Beach (Palm Beach) to Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee (Osceola) – Northbound from SR 50 in Winter Garden (Orange) to US 301 in Wildwood (Sumter) ESU was first implemented during Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Evacuees were able to drive on the inside shoulder of I-75 northbound from Wildwood to Georgia and on I-4 northbound from Tampa to Kissimmee. Real-time traffic information is always available by visiting fl511.com or calling 511. https://www.fdot.gov/emergencymanagem…