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State Road 76 (Florida)
Encyclopedia
The 31.5 miles long State Road 76, also known as Kanner Highway, is a northeast-southwest (signed east–west) highway connecting Port Mayaca on the shore of Lake Okeechobee
at the intersection with US 98-441 (SR 700
-SR 15
) with Stuart
on the shore of the St. Lucie River
near the Atlantic Ocean
and the Treasure Coast
at an intersection with US 1 (SR 5
). It parallels the nearby St. Lucie Canal, a navigable waterway connecting the lake and the ocean.
(SR 91) and Interstate 95
(SR 9)
, SR 76 crosses the woodland
and wetlands typifying Florida northeast of Lake Okeechobee. With the exception of Indiantown
on the opposite (northern) side of St. Lucie Canal near the intersection of SR 76 and SR 710
, very little human habitation exists along the southwestern 25 miles (40.2 km) of SR 76.
Northeast of the two expressways, the human presence is more pronounced (a marina
is located on the canal between the turnpike and I-95, for example) as the urbanization
undergone by Florida’s extreme southeastern counties has penetrated Martin County
.
. SR 76's routing has been unchanged since 1945.
.
had State Road 76A signs along Pratt Whitney Road west of SR 76 in Tropical Park and Southwest 48th Street south of Martin Highway (SR 714
) near Palm City
(an eastward continuation of Pratt Whitney Road is the former SR 711, now Martin County Road 711).
After FDOT removed its State Road signs from the alternate route, new Martin County Road 76A signs lined the rural streets in their place. The County Road 76A designation still applies to the former SR 76A.
(Martin County Road A1A) in Port Salerno
sported State Road 722 signs. Like SR 76A to the west, Salerno Road lost its FDOT State Road designation and became Martin County Road 722 in the mid-1990s; unlike the former SR 76A, the former SR 722 is not primarily a rural route, but a road making a direct connection between SR 76 and US 1 (East Federal Highway) in Coral Gardens, thus giving motorists an opportunity to shorten their drive from SR 76 to US 1 by ten miles. Recently, the urbanization that is now occurring on the northeastern end of SR 76 is also occurring along the eastern half of CR 722 as construction of new residential developments continues.
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
at the intersection with US 98-441 (SR 700
State Road 700 (Florida)
State Road 700 is the mostly unsigned Florida Department of Transportation State Road designation of US 98 between Chassahowitzka and Twentymile Bend...
-SR 15
State Road 15 (Florida)
State Road 15 is part of the Florida State Road System. It runs from SR 80/SR 880 at Belle Glade north along the east shore of Lake Okeechobee to Okeechobee. Then it runs north to SR 500 at Holopaw, and northwest along SR 500 to Ashton State Road 15 (commonly SR 15) is part of the Florida State...
) with Stuart
Stuart, Florida
Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964....
on the shore of the St. Lucie River
St. Lucie River
The St. Lucie River is a estuary in St. Lucie and Martin counties in the U.S. state of Florida. Its North Fork flows south from St Lucie County into Martin County where it joins the north-flowing South Fork, which was once called the Halpatiokee River, just south of the old Roosevelt Bridge in...
near the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and the Treasure Coast
Treasure Coast
The Treasure Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida, generally considered to include Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties. The area stretches from Hobe Sound in the south to north of Sebastian in the north and includes the cities of Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach...
at an intersection with US 1 (SR 5
State Road 5 (Florida)
State Road 5 is a mostly-unsigned state highway in the state of Florida. It is mainly signed as U.S. Route 1 from its south end in Key West, Florida to Jacksonville, Florida, and U.S. Route 17 from Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the Saint Marys River. U.S...
). It parallels the nearby St. Lucie Canal, a navigable waterway connecting the lake and the ocean.
Route description
West of Florida's TurnpikeFlorida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
(SR 91) and Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
(SR 9)
State Road 9 (Florida)
State Road 9 is a state road in the U.S. state of Florida. While SR 9 is mainly used as a "hidden" state designation for Interstate 95 from the Georgia border to the Golden Glades Interchange in Miami Gardens, a 13.7-mile-long signed SR 9 extends to the southwest as I-95 continues southward with...
, SR 76 crosses the woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
and wetlands typifying Florida northeast of Lake Okeechobee. With the exception of Indiantown
Indiantown, Florida
Indiantown is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,588 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
on the opposite (northern) side of St. Lucie Canal near the intersection of SR 76 and SR 710
State Road 710 (Florida)
Signed east–west, the 57-mile-long State Road 710 is a northwest-southeast route connecting SR 70 near Cypress Quarters three miles from the northern tip of Lake Okeechobee in south central Florida to U.S. Route 1 in Riviera Beach...
, very little human habitation exists along the southwestern 25 miles (40.2 km) of SR 76.
Northeast of the two expressways, the human presence is more pronounced (a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
is located on the canal between the turnpike and I-95, for example) as the urbanization
Urbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
undergone by Florida’s extreme southeastern counties has penetrated Martin County
Martin County, Florida
Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660. Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.- History :...
.
History
State Road 76 was formed by the former State Roads 85 and 109 in the 1945 renumbering1945 Florida State Road renumbering
On June 11, 1945, Florida's state roads were renumbered. The old system numbered routes in the order they were legislated, while the new system used a grid.For more detailed information on where each road was, go to the corresponding page.-See also:...
. SR 76's routing has been unchanged since 1945.
Major junctions
The entire route is located in Martin CountyMartin County, Florida
Martin County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 126,731. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 138,660. Its county seat is Stuart, Florida.- History :...
.
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Mayaca | 0.0 | Western terminus | |
| Indiantown | 11.2 | ||
| 25.4 | Exit 101 (I-95) | ||
| Stuart Stuart, Florida Stuart is the only incorporated city of Martin County, Florida, on Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 14,633 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 15,964.... |
30.4 | ||
| 31.5 | Eastern terminus |
Martin County Road 76A
Until the mid 1990s, Florida Department of TransportationFlorida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
had State Road 76A signs along Pratt Whitney Road west of SR 76 in Tropical Park and Southwest 48th Street south of Martin Highway (SR 714
State Road 714 (Florida)
State Road 714 is an 12.6-mile-long east–west highway serving northern Martin County, Florida, running from just west of I-95 near Palm City to an intersection with Southeast Ocean Boulevard in Stuart...
) near Palm City
Palm City, Florida
Palm City is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 20,097 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St...
(an eastward continuation of Pratt Whitney Road is the former SR 711, now Martin County Road 711).
After FDOT removed its State Road signs from the alternate route, new Martin County Road 76A signs lined the rural streets in their place. The County Road 76A designation still applies to the former SR 76A.
Martin County Road 722
At the same time that SR 76A signs were erected, Salerno Road between SR 76 and Dixie HighwayDixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
(Martin County Road A1A) in Port Salerno
Port Salerno, Florida
Port Salerno is a census-designated place in Martin County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,141 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Port St...
sported State Road 722 signs. Like SR 76A to the west, Salerno Road lost its FDOT State Road designation and became Martin County Road 722 in the mid-1990s; unlike the former SR 76A, the former SR 722 is not primarily a rural route, but a road making a direct connection between SR 76 and US 1 (East Federal Highway) in Coral Gardens, thus giving motorists an opportunity to shorten their drive from SR 76 to US 1 by ten miles. Recently, the urbanization that is now occurring on the northeastern end of SR 76 is also occurring along the eastern half of CR 722 as construction of new residential developments continues.