Legislators may have been busy during this years 60-day regular session with redistricting, the budget and listening to farewell addresses from those who are term-limited from office in the fall.
Still, they found time to dedicate a number of streets, highways and bridges to local military members killed serving the country; local law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty; a former Miami Dolphin; local politicians; freedom fighters in Cuba; a local activist; a local developer; and a high school teacher and a high school coach.
Gov. Rick Scott approved the estimated $55,000 expenditure in the Florida Department of Transportation budget Friday.
The dedicated roads and bridges:
ALACHUA
Deputy Jack A. Romeis Road. Romeis was an Alachua County sheriffs deputy killed in the line of duty. State Road 26A in Alachua County between West University Avenue and S.W. 25th Street in Gainesville.
Coach Jimmy Carnes Boulevard. Carnes was the track coach at the University of Florida from 1965 to 1976. He died March 3, 2011. S.W. 23rd Street, in front of James G. 106 Pressly Stadium and 4211 S.W. 23rd Street, between S.W. 2nd 107 Avenue and Fraternity Row/Drive in Alachua County
BREVARD
U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Daniel Sanchez Memorial Highway. Sanchez was killed in Afghanistan in October 2009. State Road 513 between Banana River Drive and Eau Gallie Boulevard in Brevard County.
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Dustin Schrage Highway. Schrage died in Iraq in May 2004. State Road A1A between Pinetree Drive and Eau Gallie Boulevard in Brevard County.
Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Highway. The Moores were early pioneers of the civil rights movement who were killed for their activities on December 25, 1951. State Road 46 in Brevard County between U.S. Highway 1 and the Volusia County line.
BROWARD
West Park Boulevard, designed to increase the visibility of the city of West Park. U.S. Highway 441/State Road 7 between 193 State Road 824/Pembroke Road and State Road 852/N.W. 215th 194 Street/County Line Road in Broward County.
Pembroke Park Boulevard, designed to increase the visibility of the city of Pembroke Park. State Road 858/Hallandale Beach 202 Boulevard between Interstate 95/State Road 9 and S.W. 56th 203 Avenue in Broward County.
COLUMBIA
Santa Fe Military Trail. County Road 18 in Bradford, Union, and Columbia counties between State Road 100 in Bradford County and State Road 20 in Columbia County.
DIXIE
SP4 Thomas Berry Corbin Memorial Highway. Corbin was killed in combat in South Vietnam in 1968. He received the Army Silver Star. U.S. Highway 19/27A/98/State Road 55 between the Suwannee River Bridge and N.E. 592nd Street/Chavous Road/Kate Green Road in Dixie County.
U.S. Navy BMC Samuel Calhoun Chavous Jr., Memorial Highway. Chavous Jr. was killed in combat in South Vietnam in 1968. U.S. Highway 19/98/State Road 55 25 between N.E. 592nd Street/Chavous Road/Kate Green Road and N.E. 26 170th Street in Dixie County.
DUVAL
USS Stark Memorial Drive. The USS Stark was attacked by an Iraqi jet fighter in 1987, killing 37 American sailors. State Road 101/Mayport Road between State Road A1A and Wonderwood Connector in Duval County. Duval County Law Enforcement Memorial Overpass, honoring the law enforcement community in Duval County. Interstate 295/State Road 9A overpass (Bridge 125 Nos. 720256 and 720347) over Interstate 10/State Road 8 in Duval County.
ESCAMBIA
Creola Rutledge Parkway. Rutledge is the longtime cook at the Coffee Cup in Pensacola. E. Cervantes Street/U.S. 90 in Escambia County between N. 6th Avenue and N. Davis Highway in Pensacola.
Joyce Webb Nobles Bridge. Nobles cut the ribbon when the East Cervantes Street Bridge (State Road 10A) in Pensacola opened in 1935 and 70 years later when a concrete bridge replaced the original wooden structure. She was also a community leader in Pensacola. U.S. Highway 90/98, State Road 10A, East Cervantes Street Bridge (Bridge No. 480198) in Escambia County.
GADSDEN
Alfred Lawson Jr. Highway. Lawson Jr. served in the Florida House of Representatives from 1982 to 2000, and in the Florida Senate from 2000 to 2010. U.S. Highway 90/State Road 10/East Jefferson Street between State Road 12/State Road 65/Madison Street and County Road 159 in Gadsden County.
GULF
Veterans' Parkway. State Road 22 between U.S. Highway 98 in the City of Springfield in Bay County and State Road 71 in the City of Wewahitchka in Gulf County.
HAMILTON
Brett Fulton and Josh Burch Memorial Highway. Fulton and Burch were Division of Forestry firefighters killed while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County on June 20, 2011. U.S. Highway 41/State Road 6/State 299 Road 25 between the Madison County line and County Road 51 in Hamilton County.
HIGHLANDS
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Sgt. Nicholas G. Sottile Memorial. Sottile was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 12, 2007. Milepost 22.182 on U.S. Highway 27 in Highlands County.
HILLSBOROUGH
Elvin Martinez Road. Martinez was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1966 to 1974 and from 1978 to 2000. Tampa Bay Boulevard between Armenia Avenue and Himes Avenue in Hillsborough County.
Cpl. Michael Joseph Roberts Memorial Highway. Roberts was a Tampa police officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty on Aug. 19, 2009. Interstate 275 in Hillsborough County 80 between the Livingston Avenue Bridge and the intersection with 81 Interstate 75 at the Hillsborough-Pasco
County line.
Ivey Edward Cannon Memorial Bridge. Cannon was a farmer in Hillsborough County from 1935 who also operated the Blackwater Creek Ultralight Flight Park from 1983. He died June 16, 2004. Bridge Nos. 100646 and 100647 on Paul S. Buchman Highway/State Road 39 between County Line Road and Half Mile Road in Hillsborough County
INDIAN RIVER
Alma Lee Loy Bridge. Loy was the first woman elected to the Indian River County Commission. Bridge No. 880077 on State Road 656 between State 63 Road A1A and Indian River Boulevard in the city of Vero Beach in Indian River County.
LAKE
Capt. Jim Reynolds Jr., USAF "Malibu" Reynolds Road. Reynolds Jr. was killed during a training mission at the Nellis Air Force Base Range in Nevada in 1993. State Road 44 between U.S. Highway 441 and State Road 44/East Orange Avenue near the City of Eustis in Lake County.
LAFAYETTE
Sheriff Stanley H. Cannon Memorial Highway. Cannon was sheriff of Lafayette County from 1971 to 1980. He died May 11, 2011. State Road 51 between Cooks Hammock 212 and the Lafayette-Taylor County line in Lafayette County.
LEVY
Marine Lance Cpl. Brian R. Buesing Memorial Highway. Buesing was killed in combat in Iraq in 2003. State Road 24 between County Road 347 35 and Bridge Number 340053 in Levy County.
United States Army Sgt. Karl A. Campbell Memorial Highway. Campbell was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. U.S. Highway 19/98/State Road 55/South Main Street between N.W. 1st Avenue and S.E. 2nd Avenue in Levy County.
U.S. Army SPC James A. Page Memorial Highway. Page was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. U.S. Highway 27A/State Road 500/Hathaway Avenue between State Road 24/Thrasher Drive and Town Court in Levy County.
MARION
Samuel B. Love Memorial Highway. Love was a citrus grower and rancher who was involved in the agricultural community. Sunset Harbor Road between S.E. 105th 263 Avenue and S.E. 115th Avenue in Marion County.
MIAMI-DADE
Lourdes P. Aguila Street. Aguila is the founder of La Liga Contra el Cancer (League Against Cancer). S.W. 12th Avenue from Coral Way to S.W. 16th Street in Miami-Dade County.
Miami Medical Team Way. Miami Medical Team is a group of medical doctors who provide relief to people in third world countries torn by natural or man-made catastrophes. State Road 972/S.W. 22nd Street between S.W. 24th Avenue and State Road 9/S.W. 27th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Benjamin Leon Jr. Way. Leon Jr. is the founder of Leon Medical Centers Inc. State Road 9/27th Avenue between U.S. 1/State Road 5/South Dixie Highway and U.S. 441/State Road 7 in Miami-Dade County.
The Rev. Max Salvador Avenue. Salvador was a priest and pastor who ministered to the Spanish-speaking community in Miami-Dade County. State Road 9/S.W. 27th Avenue between U.S. Highway 41/State Road 90/S.W. 8th Street/Tamiami Trail and S.W. 13th Street in Miami-Dade County.
Aleida Leal Way. Leal is a radio personality on Spanish language radio in Miami-Dade County. State Road 968/West Flagler Street between S.W. 39th Avenue and N.W. 37th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Mrs. Ann Carlton Bridge. Carlton was a musician and community leader in Miami-Dade County. Bridge No. 870002 on U.S. Highway 1/State Road 5/Biscayne Boulevard between N.E. 77th Street and N.E. 78th Street crossing Little River Canal in Miami-Dade County.
Amadeo Lopez-Castro Jr. Road. Lopez-Castro Jr., was an engineer and banker who served as chairman of Jackson Memorial Hospitals Public Health Trust. S.W. 57th Avenue/Red Road between S.W. 413 78th Street and S.W. 88th Street/Kendall Drive in Miami-Dade County.
Pastor Marvin Gochenour Way. Gochenour is the founder of First Baptist Church of Westwood Lake, Westwood Christian School, and Circle C. Youth Ranch. Miller Road/S.W. 56th Street between S.W. 120th Avenue and S.W. 117th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Rev. Jorge Comesanas Way. Comesanas was a pastor who served various churches in the United States and Cuba. S.W. 87th Avenue between S.W. 8th 429 Street and S.W. 24th Street in Miami-Dade County.
Jim Mandich Memorial Highway. Mandich was a player for the Miami Dolphins and a radio host and commentator. State Road 826/Palmetto Expressway between on-ramp 87260330 and on-ramp 87260333 in Miami-Dade County.
Tanya Martin Oubre Pekel Street. Oubre Pekel was a Miami native who served as an associate director of Education and Policy Planning in the Clinton White House. She passed away on May 22, 2006. State Road 932/N.E. 103rd Street 169 between N.W. 3rd Avenue and N.E. 6th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Jacob Fleishman Street. Fleishman founded Jacob Fleishman Cold Storage, a fourth generation family business. State Road 934/N.W. 79th Street between N.W. 14th Avenue and N.W. 9th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Margaret Haines Street. Margaret Haines is active in community outreach activities in Miami-Dade County. N.W. 59th Street between N.W. 27th 185 Avenue and N.W. 25th Avenue in Miami-D de County.
Deputy John C. Mecklenburg Memorial Highway. Deputy John C. Mecklenburg was a Hernando County sheriffs deputy killed in the line of duty on July 3, 2011. U.S. Highway 41/State Road 45 between State Road 50 in Hernando County and State Road 52 in Pasco County.
Florencio "Kiko" Pernas Avenue. Pernas was an immigrant from Cuba and he owned several video stores and pawn shops in Hialeah. State Road 953/LeJeune Road/N.E. 8th Avenue between E. 32nd Street and E. 41st Street in Miami-Dade County
Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet Boulevard. Biscet is a Cuban medical professional and a noted advocate for human rights who is currently in prison in Cuba for alleged crimes against the sovereignty and the integrity of Cuba. State Road 972/S.W. 22nd Street between S.W. 32nd Avenue and S.W. 37th Avenue/Douglas Road in Miami-Dade County.
BRIGADA 2506 STREET, Carlos Rodriguez Santana. Carlos Rodriguez Santana was the founder of the Brigada 2506, a group of CIA-recruited anti-Castro Cuban exiles who fought in the Bay of Pigs invasion in May 1960. He died in training in Guatemala in September 1960. U.S. Highway 41/State Road 90/S.W. 8th 289 Street/Tamiami Trail between S.W. 10th Avenue and State Road 290 933/S.W. 12th Avenue in Miami-Dade County.
Hugh Anderson Boulevard. Anderson was a land developer who was instrumental in the construction of Biscayne Boulevard. Biscayne Boulevard from N.E. 88th 318 Street to N.E. 105th Street in Miami Shores Village in Miami-Dade County.
MONROE
Whale Harbor Joe Roth Jr. Bridge. Roth Jr. was a philanthropist and entrepreneur in the Florida Keys. Whale Harbor Bridge (Bridge No. 900076) on U.S. 134 Highway 1/State Road 5 in Monroe County.
NASSAU
Verna Bell Way. Bell was a community activist in Fernandina Beach. State Road 200 between Lime Street and Beech Street in the City of Fernandina Beach in Nassau County
OKALOOSA
Purple Heart Memorial Highway. State Road 20/John Sims Parkway (57-279 040-000) between State Road 85 and the Walton County line in Okaloosa County.
ORANGE
Edna S. Hargrett-Thrower Avenue. Hargrett-Thrower was the head of the Choral Music Department at Jones High School in Orlando. She died April 19, 2010. Orange Blossom Trail between W. Gore Street and W. Church Street in Orange County.
PINELLAS
P.E. "Gene" Carpenter Memorial Highway. Carpenter directed all the Federal Highway efforts in Florida from 1971 until his retirement in 1986. State Road 679/Pinellas Bayway South from north of the Pedestrian Crossing to State Road 682/Pinellas 328 Bayway South in Pinellas County.
PUTNAM
Veterans Memorial Highway. State Road 19 between U.S. Highway 220 17/State Road 15 and Carriage Drive in Putnam County.
UNION
Deputy Hal P. Croft and Deputy Ronald Jackson Highway. Croft and Jackson were Union County sheriffs deputies killed in the line of duty on May 23, 1961. State Road 100 East between the Bradford County line and the Columbia County line in Union County.
WALTON
Charles Modica Sr., Hospitality Way. Modica Sr. is the owner of the Modica market and is considered a founding father of Seaside, Fla. He died in October 2010. County Road 30A between County Road 283 to County Hwy 395
WASHINGTON
Ben G. Watts Highway. Watts served as secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation DOT from 1989 to 1997. U.S. Highway 90/State Road 10 between the Holmes County line and the Jackson County line in Washington County.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
