New Sawgrass Expressway interchange in Coral Springs expected to open in mid-October with major traffic pattern changes
Coral Springs, Florida – Drivers traveling from Sample Road toward the Sawgrass Expressway in Coral Springs will soon face a noticeable change in the way traffic moves through the interchange. A new partial diverging diamond interchange is expected to open in mid-October, weather and construction conditions permitting.
The project is being carried out by Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise, which is part of the Florida Department of Transportation. Fiorella Teodista, the agency’s communications outreach coordinator, confirmed that the new traffic pattern is expected to begin operating around the middle of October.
Once the interchange opens, motorists will need to adjust to a different route through the intersection. Drivers heading toward the Sawgrass Expressway will temporarily move to the opposite side of the road before crossing back as they pass through the interchange.
The unusual-looking traffic pattern is an intentional part of the diverging diamond design. New traffic signals, pavement markings and signs will guide drivers through the intersection and toward the expressway entrance and exit ramps.
Teodista said drivers should use caution, pick a lane early and stay alert as they learn the pattern.
For motorists who regularly use Sample Road, the change could take some getting used to. Drivers will need to pay attention to the new signs and signals rather than relying on the traffic pattern they have followed in the past.
The design is intended to improve traffic flow while also reducing the number of locations where vehicles cross paths. According to FDOT, a diverging diamond interchange can reduce those conflict points by more than half.
The opening of the new interchange, however, will not mark the end of construction in the area. Work will continue after traffic is moved onto the new configuration, meaning drivers should expect additional construction activity as crews complete the larger project.
The interchange is part of a major effort to widen the Sawgrass Expressway between Atlantic Boulevard and Sample Road. Construction began in October 2024, and the overall project is expected to be completed in early 2028.
Several improvements are included in the work. Crews are adding lanes along the expressway, rebuilding ramps and making upgrades to the drainage system. The project also includes new lighting, signs and traffic technology intended to support the expanded roadway.
The mid-October opening will therefore represent one stage of a much larger construction effort. While the new interchange is expected to change how drivers enter and leave the Sawgrass Expressway, additional work will continue in the surrounding area for years.
Drivers who use the interchange when it opens are encouraged to slow down, watch for the new traffic controls and give themselves time to become familiar with the layout. The new configuration may look different from the road motorists have used for years, but the signals, signs and pavement markings will direct traffic through each part of the interchange.
With the opening approaching, drivers in Coral Springs and others who regularly travel along Sample Road should be prepared for the new pattern and possible construction activity as the broader Sawgrass Expressway project moves forward.
