lol. I should explain more. The Palmetto, or Florida State Road 826, is a major expressway (and I use that term lightly) in South Miami Dade County. It's technically a bypass around Miami. It's one of three limited access North/South Highways in the area. The alternatives are I-95 and the Florida Turnpike. I-95 on the southern end, a "stone's throw" from , splitting off from US1. Traffic through that area is generally horrible. The Turnpike runs quite a bit farther west and is a toll road. The southern terminus of the Palmetto is also US1, but a few miles south of 95. The Palmetto has no tolls and runs between 95 and the Turnpike. Since it's free to use and doesn't run through downtown, it's very popular. It's also perpetually under construction.*
This driver yesterday was running down two of the middle lanes, taking up half of each and refusing to get in one or the other, causing major traffic issues.
*Amusing story: I asked my mother if there was ever a time when the Palmetto was not under construction and she said "Not in my life time."
Another South Florida person - I bolded one of the other reasons that the Palmetto is always, always, always jammed; the alternative route is the Turnpike, which has a toll. It's hard enough making ends meet without having to pay for the privilege of driving on a relatively traffic-free roadway (although I do it on stretch of 95 from Golden Glades to Miami, and on the turnpike home. It's worth it for 20 minutes more a day with husband and doggy.)
On my drive this morning (into my Fort Lauderdale office today, not Miami), we have the "lane bopping aren't-I-cute" SS on 595 eastbound, also under major construction. Every single day, the lanes shift to accommodate the construction. PT Cruiser self-proclaimed hottie (see her bumpersticker for proof) is driving with her knees, putting on make-up, and weaving in and out of traffic to better her relative position in the pack of cars all headed to pretty much the same place.
I caught up to her on US Highway 1, in the lane next to mine. She arrived at the building next to mine, 30 seconds after me. Glad her endangering of others on the road had such an incredibly positive outcome for her.
