State Road 953 (Florida)
Encyclopedia
State Road 953 - locally known as LeJeune Road , West 42nd Avenue, Southeast 8th Avenue, and East 8th Avenue - is a 11.8 miles (19 km) long north–south street in Miami-Dade County, Florida
, and running a few miles west of central Miami
. Its southern terminus is an intersection with U.S. Route 1 (South Dixie Highway) in Coral Gables
near the Village of Merrick Park
lifestyle center
. Its northern terminus is an intersection with Florida State Road 916 (North 135th Street), 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) south of the northern end of LeJeune Road at the terminal of Opa-locka Airport
.
and the western end of the Village of Merrick Park mall. SR 953 intersects Bird Road and leaves the campus of Coral Gables High School, entering a pure residential area and remains that way until reaching University Drive. At that point, the east side of the road becomes commercial and the west side is residential until close to the intersection with Coral Way (Florida State Road 972). A few blocks north of Coral Way, it resumes with residential housing on the west side of the road and commercial buildings to the east, still in Coral Gables. At Zamora Avenue, SR 953 divides Coral Gables to the west with unincorporated Miami-Dade County to the east, and enters unincorporated Miami-Dade County just one block north at Mendoza Avenue, becoming purely a residential street again. At Southwest 8th Street (US 41/Tamiami Trail
), LeJeune Road enters the city of Miami, and becomes a divided road, with two lanes in each direction.
SR 953 continues north through Miami, remaining a residential street for six blocks before becoming a commercial road. It continues north through Miami as a commercial street until an interchange with the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), where the road becomes a divider between the International Links Miami-Melreese golf course to the east and a parking lot to the west. It reenters unincorporated Miami-Dade County after crossing the Tamiami Canal
just south of the entrance to Miami International Airport
and its interchange with the southern terminus of the Airport Expressway (SR 112). Between SR 953's entrance of the airport and the next major interchange north, Florida State Road 948, it creates the eastern boundary of the airport, with airport related business to the east of LeJeune Road.
Just two blocks north of SR 948, SR 953 crosses canal C-6 and crosses Okeechobee Road, entering Hialeah
as their Southeast 8th Avenue and no longer a divided road. It continues north as a residential street, crossing Florida State Road 944, becoming East 8th Avenue, the easternmost major street in Hialeah, with some commercial business at East 9th Street, Florida State Road 934, East 41st Street and Florida State Road 932. North of East 57th Street, it passes by a truck distribution center to the east, and a park to the west. SR 953 then splits off to the W 42nd/37th Avenue Connection, providing nearby access to Florida State Road 924, followed by an intersection with East 65th Street at the south end of Amelia Earhart Park
, leaving Hialeah and entering Opa-locka
where it is again West 42nd Avenue. North of SR 924, LeJeune Road is a purely commercial road, servicing truck distribution centers as SR 953 heads towards its northern terminus of Florida State Road 916.
North of SR 916, LeJeune Road continues for 0.6 mile (0.965604 km), towards a dead-end inside Opa-locka Airport
.
South of US 1, LeJeune Road continues another 1.4 miles (2.3 km) as a heavily-wooded residential Coral Gables street, ending at Cartagena Plaza (Cartagena Circle) at the edge of the Coral Gables Waterway in the city of Coral Gables
, connecting with Sunset Drive/South 72nd Street, Old Cutler Road
, Cocoplum Road and Ingraham Highway.
.
At one point during the 1960s, the entire route was to be upgraded to freeway status, but the plans were cancelled
. Several attempts to upgrade LeJeune Road around Miami International Airport have been proposed, with all of them failing.
Prior to 1983, LeJeune Road was signed as State Road 913 south of North 103rd Street (SR 932); a designation now being applied to the Rickenbacker Causeway
.
(SR 836) is resulting in a shifting of LeJeune Road the equivalent of one block to the west to accommodate the requirements of building Miami Central Station
and the Miami Intermodal Center
.
.
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, and running a few miles west of central Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. Its southern terminus is an intersection with U.S. Route 1 (South Dixie Highway) in Coral Gables
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
near the Village of Merrick Park
Village of Merrick Park
The Village of Merrick Park is an upscale lifestyle center in Coral Gables, Florida. Opened in 2002, the mall is operated by General Growth Properties and features over 100 tenant stores, including restaurants....
lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
. Its northern terminus is an intersection with Florida State Road 916 (North 135th Street), 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) south of the northern end of LeJeune Road at the terminal of Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport , also known as Opa-locka Executive Airport, is a general aviation airport and joint civil-military airfield 10 miles north of Downtown Miami, primarily in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States, with a portion within the city proper of Opa-locka.The airport's control tower...
.
Route description
State Road 953 begins at the interchange between LeJeune Road/W 42nd Avenue and US 1 in Coral Gables as a four lane road. It heads north, through residential areas, the eastern end of Coral Gables High SchoolCoral Gables High School
Coral Gables Senior High School is a secondary school located at 450 Bird Road in Coral Gables, Florida, USA.Coral Gables SHS opened its doors in 1950; its architectural design reflects a Spanish influence with its open courtyards adorned with water fountains...
and the western end of the Village of Merrick Park mall. SR 953 intersects Bird Road and leaves the campus of Coral Gables High School, entering a pure residential area and remains that way until reaching University Drive. At that point, the east side of the road becomes commercial and the west side is residential until close to the intersection with Coral Way (Florida State Road 972). A few blocks north of Coral Way, it resumes with residential housing on the west side of the road and commercial buildings to the east, still in Coral Gables. At Zamora Avenue, SR 953 divides Coral Gables to the west with unincorporated Miami-Dade County to the east, and enters unincorporated Miami-Dade County just one block north at Mendoza Avenue, becoming purely a residential street again. At Southwest 8th Street (US 41/Tamiami Trail
Tamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 from State Road 60 in Tampa to U.S. Route 1 in Miami. The road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90....
), LeJeune Road enters the city of Miami, and becomes a divided road, with two lanes in each direction.
SR 953 continues north through Miami, remaining a residential street for six blocks before becoming a commercial road. It continues north through Miami as a commercial street until an interchange with the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836), where the road becomes a divider between the International Links Miami-Melreese golf course to the east and a parking lot to the west. It reenters unincorporated Miami-Dade County after crossing the Tamiami Canal
Tamiami Canal
The Tamiami Canal or C-4 Canal, is located in southern Florida in the United States. It flows in a west to east direction from the western part of the state in the Everglades past the Miami International Airport to a salinity control center near the Miami River...
just south of the entrance to Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
and its interchange with the southern terminus of the Airport Expressway (SR 112). Between SR 953's entrance of the airport and the next major interchange north, Florida State Road 948, it creates the eastern boundary of the airport, with airport related business to the east of LeJeune Road.
Just two blocks north of SR 948, SR 953 crosses canal C-6 and crosses Okeechobee Road, entering Hialeah
Hialeah, Florida
Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S...
as their Southeast 8th Avenue and no longer a divided road. It continues north as a residential street, crossing Florida State Road 944, becoming East 8th Avenue, the easternmost major street in Hialeah, with some commercial business at East 9th Street, Florida State Road 934, East 41st Street and Florida State Road 932. North of East 57th Street, it passes by a truck distribution center to the east, and a park to the west. SR 953 then splits off to the W 42nd/37th Avenue Connection, providing nearby access to Florida State Road 924, followed by an intersection with East 65th Street at the south end of Amelia Earhart Park
Amelia Earhart Park
Amelia Earhart Park is a urban park in metropolitan Miami, just north Hialeah, Florida. It offers a number of recreational attractions like bike trails, skateboarding, and fishing.-History:...
, leaving Hialeah and entering Opa-locka
Opa-locka, Florida
Opa-locka is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the mid decade census, the population was 15,376 as recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau....
where it is again West 42nd Avenue. North of SR 924, LeJeune Road is a purely commercial road, servicing truck distribution centers as SR 953 heads towards its northern terminus of Florida State Road 916.
North of SR 916, LeJeune Road continues for 0.6 mile (0.965604 km), towards a dead-end inside Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport
Opa-locka Airport , also known as Opa-locka Executive Airport, is a general aviation airport and joint civil-military airfield 10 miles north of Downtown Miami, primarily in metropolitan Miami, Florida, United States, with a portion within the city proper of Opa-locka.The airport's control tower...
.
South of US 1, LeJeune Road continues another 1.4 miles (2.3 km) as a heavily-wooded residential Coral Gables street, ending at Cartagena Plaza (Cartagena Circle) at the edge of the Coral Gables Waterway in the city of Coral Gables
Coral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
, connecting with Sunset Drive/South 72nd Street, Old Cutler Road
Old Cutler Road
Old Cutler Road is an off-grid plan north-south main road that runs south of Downtown Miami in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.-Route description:...
, Cocoplum Road and Ingraham Highway.
History
According to Joaquin Roy, a highly regarded professor from the University of Miami in his 1989 book "The Streets of Coral Gables"; Le Jeune Road was named after Charles Le Jeune (b.1878 in Belgium) who came to Florida around 1900 and acquired 140 acre (0.5665604 km²) of coral rock land on which he used dynamite to create tillable soil, and then cultivated orange, grapefruit and lime groves. The road that was the boundary of his property became known as Le Jeune Road. In 1914, Charles Le Jeune sold his groves to (George) Merrick, developer of Coral Gables, Florida, for $1,700,000. It runs adjacent to the east side and crosses the original entrance/exit to Miami International AirportMiami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
.
At one point during the 1960s, the entire route was to be upgraded to freeway status, but the plans were cancelled
Canceled expressways in Florida
There have been plans in Florida for expressways, but some were never constructed due to financial problems, community opposition and environmental issues.-South Florida:...
. Several attempts to upgrade LeJeune Road around Miami International Airport have been proposed, with all of them failing.
Prior to 1983, LeJeune Road was signed as State Road 913 south of North 103rd Street (SR 932); a designation now being applied to the Rickenbacker Causeway
Rickenbacker Causeway
The Rickenbacker Causeway connects Miami, Florida, United States to the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne across Biscayne Bay.-Background:...
.
Future
Construction of a connector expressway between the Airport Expressway (SR 112) and the Dolphin ExpresswayState Road 836 (Florida)
State Road 836, locally known as the Dolphin Expressway, is a 19-mile-long six-lane divided expressway, with the westernmost 14 miles being a tollway, currently extending from just north of the intersection of Southwest 137th Avenue and U.S...
(SR 836) is resulting in a shifting of LeJeune Road the equivalent of one block to the west to accommodate the requirements of building Miami Central Station
Miami Central Station
Miami Central Station, also called Miami Airport Station, is a rapid transit, commuter rail, intercity rail, and intercity bus union station currently under construction in Miami, Florida, United States, in the Grapeland Heights neighborhood....
and the Miami Intermodal Center
Miami Intermodal Center
For the rail station next to the MIC, see Miami Central StationMiami Intermodal Center is a transportation hub under construction by the Florida Department of Transportation in Miami, Florida, in the United States. It will offer centralized transfer between Metrorail, Amtrak, Tri-Rail, buses,...
.
Major junctions
The entire route is in Miami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
.
| Location | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Gables Coral Gables, Florida Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami.... |
0.00 | Southern terminus | |
| 0.58 | |||
| 1.59 | |||
| Miami Miami, Florida Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625... |
2.63 | ||
| 3.14 | |||
| 4.08 | |||
| 4.75 | |||
| 5.69 | |||
| 5.85 | |||
| Hialeah Hialeah, Florida Hialeah is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 226,419. As of 2009, the population estimate by the U. S... |
6.72 | ||
| 8.25 | |||
| 9.78 | |||
| Opa-Locka Opa-locka, Florida Opa-locka is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. As of the mid decade census, the population was 15,376 as recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau.... |
11.01 | Access via the NW 42nd/37th Avenue Connection | |
| 11.80 | Northern terminus |