Florida State Road 29

{{short description|Highway in Florida}} {{About|the Florida state highway numbered 29|the U.S. highway with the same number|U.S. Route 29 in Florida}} {{Use American English|date=March 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox road |state=FL |type=SR |route=29 |map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|type=line|from=Florida State Road 29.map}} |map_custom=yes |map_notes=SR 29 highlighted in red, CR 29 highlighted in blue |length_mi=75.820 |length_ref=<ref name=sld/> |established= |direction_a=South |terminus_a={{jct|state=FL|US|41|CR|29|county2=Collier}} at Carnestown |junction={{jct|state=FL|I-Toll|75}} in Miles City<br>{{jct|state=FL|SR|82}} near Immokalee<br>{{jct|state=FL|SR|80}} in LaBelle |direction_b=North |terminus_b={{jct|state=FL|US|27}} near Palmdale |counties=Collier, Hendry, Glades |previous_type=US |previous_route=29 |next_type=SR |next_route=30 }} '''State Road 29''' (SR 29) is a state highway that runs north–south through Southwest Florida. It begins in Carnestown (just north of Everglades City) and runs north to a point just south of Palmdale. A rural road, it runs mostly through uninhabited farmland in its northern half, and along wetlands in its southern half. The route previously continued south of Carnestown to Everglades City and Chokoloskee, which has since become '''County Road 29''' ('''CR 29''').

==Route description== thumb|left|Florida State Road 29, just north of US Route 41 in Carnestown

===County Road 29=== CR 29 begins on Chokoloskee Island at SR 29's historic southern terminus, where it known as '''Smallwood Avenue''' (named for Ted Smallwood, who opened the areas historic general store which is now a museum).<ref name="Smallwood">{{cite web|title=Chokoloskee|url=https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/fl/chokoloskee.html|website=Ghost Towns|accessdate=23 June 2015}}</ref> From Chokoloksee, CR 29 crosses a causeway across Chokoloskee Bay to Everglades City. In Everglades City, it turns east along Broadway and north along '''Collier Avenue''', where it continues out of the city and terminating at U.S. Route 41 in Carnestown.<ref>{{Google maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/25.9108255,-81.364553/25.8120807,-81.3593709/@25.8614492,-81.3722623,13z/data=!4m2!4m1!3e0 |title=CR 29 |accessdate=June 23, 2015}}</ref>

===State Road 29=== {{stack|[[File:FL 29 Sign - Miles City (31408751356).jpg|thumb|right|A Florida State Road 29 sign located in Miles City, just south of Interstate 75.]]}} SR 29 officially begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 41 (Tamiami Trail) in Carnestown. From there, it travels north along the western edge of the Big Cypress National Preserve and the eastern edge of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Forest, which the road borders until it reaches Interstate 75 (Alligator Alley) at Miles City.

thumb|left|SR 29 drawbridge over the Caloosahatchee River in LaBelle, Florida North of I-75, State Road 29 borders the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge to the west and continues to border the Big Cypress National Preserve up to a point just south of Sunniland.

SR 29 turns west briefly and back north through the city of Immokalee, a small farming town with large migrant populations. SR 29 expands to four lanes in as it passes through central Immokalee along '''Main Street''' and '''North 15th Street'''. Just north of Immokalee, SR 29 is reduced to two lanes before intersecting with State Road 82, which travels west to Fort Myers.

SR 29 continues due north through more agricultural areas until it reaches the city of LaBelle. SR 29 enters LaBelle along '''Main Street'''. It then comes to an intersection with SR 80, a transpeninsular route connecting Fort Myers and West Palm Beach. SR 29 then turns east along SR 80 for one block before turning north again at '''Bridge Street'''. SR 29 then crosses the Caloosahatchee River on a bascule drawbridge.

{{stack|thumb|right|North end of State Road 29}} On the north side of the river, SR 29 intersects CR 78 and SR 78 before continuing north through rural Glades County. SR 29 comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with US 27 (unsigned SR 25), just south of Palmdale.

==History== Present-day State Road 29 initially ran from LaBelle to Immokalee. It was extended from Immokalee to Everglades City (originally known as simply Everglades) in the 1920s around the same time as the construction of the Tamiami Trail. The extension was championed by Barron Collier as a land connection to Everglades City (the county seat of Collier County at the time).<ref>Carter, Luther J. (1974). ''The Florida Experience: Land and Water Policy in a Growth State''. The Johns Hopkins University Press. {{ISBN|0-8018-1646-7}}.</ref> The route from Immokalee to Everglades City was built alongside the now-abandoned Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Haines City Branch from Harrisburg (just south of Palmdale) to Everglades City, which was also built in the 1920s. Part of this line was once the Deep Lake Railroad, which was once owned by Barron Collier. The railroad was removed from Sunniland south to Everglades City in 1957, and the rest of it was removed in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harrisburg to Everglades City|url=https://www.abandonedrails.com/Harrisburg_to_Everglades_City|work=Abandoned Rails|access-date=22 December 2013}}</ref>

thumb|left|Former SR 29 swing bridge over Caloosahatchee River in LaBelle SR 29 was originally designated SR 164 from Everglades City to LaBelle, which continued north from LaBelle along what is now Fire Tower Road.<ref>{{cite web|title=Collier, 1936|url=https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/500/f539/f539.htm|website=Florida Center for Instructional Technology|publisher=University of South Florida|access-date=14 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hendry, 1936|url=https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/800/f808/f808b.pdf|website=Florida Center for Instructional Technology|publisher=University of South Florida|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=West Glades, 1936|url=https://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/300/f315/f315b.pdf|website=Florida Center for Instructional Technology|publisher=University of South Florida|access-date=28 May 2026}}</ref> SR 164 was redesignated as SR 29 from Everglades City to LaBelle during the 1945 Florida State Road renumbering. SR 29 was extended from the north side of the Caloosahatchee River north of LaBelle to its current northern terminus at US 27 near Palmdale by 1950.<ref name="fdot 1949">{{cite map |author = State Road Department of Florida |title = Official State Road Map of Florida |year = 1949 |url = https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/co-gis/past_statemap/flstatemap1949.pdf?sfvrsn=c2ecbe34_0 |scale = Scale not given |location = Tallahassee |publisher = State Road Department of Florida |access-date = May 28, 2026 }}</ref><ref name="fdot 1950">{{cite map |author = State Road Department of Florida |title = Official State Road Map of Florida |year = 1950 |url = https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/co-gis/past_statemap/flstatemap1950.pdf?sfvrsn=5c8fc27b_0 |scale = Scale not given |location = Tallahassee |publisher = State Road Department of Florida |access-date = May 28, 2026 }}</ref> At the south end, SR 29 was extended from Everglades City to Chokoloskee in 1956 upon the completion of a causeway across Chokoloskee Bay.<ref name="Smallwood"/>

thumb|right|SR 29 Bascule bridge over Caloosahatchee River under construction with original swing bridge in front of it SR 29's current bascule bridge over the Caloosahatchee River in LaBelle was built in 1959, replacing a swing bridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=LaBelle Bridge |url=https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=florida/labelle/ |website=Historic Bridges |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref> The swing bridge was just west of the bascule bridge connecting Desoto Avenue and Main Street on the south side and North Bridge Street on the north side of the river. The construction of the bascule bridge resulted in the realignment of SR 29 from Main Street to Bridge Street in LaBelle.<ref name="map">{{cite web |title=LaBelle map (1958) |url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/img4/ht_icons/overlay/FL/FL_La%20Belle_346951_1958_24000_geo.jpg |publisher=United States Geological Survey |access-date=30 April 2024}}</ref>

The Florida Department of Transportation removed a large number of State Roads from its list for state control and maintenance to county control in the 1980s. SR 29 south of US 41 to Everglades City and Chokoloskee was given to county control at this time, becoming CR 29.<ref name="1966-76">[http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00017243/00001/1x?vo=32 General Highway Map, Collier County, April 1966, reprinted January 1976]</ref>

When plans were made to upgrade Alligator Alley to carry Interstate 75 in 1973, State Road 29 was not initially planned to have an interchange with the freeway due to environmental concerns. This decision was reversed in 1989 during construction of I-75 and interchange ramps were included after steps were taken to protect the endangered Florida panther.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Staats|first1=Eric|title=POLL Alligator Alley widening study raised environmental concern about interchanges|url=https://www.naplesnews.com/community/poll-alligator-alley-widening-study-raised-environmental-concern-about-interchanges-ep-394366404-332213312.html|access-date=22 June 2016|work=Naples Daily News|date=30 July 2010}}</ref>

==Major intersections== {{jcttop|state=FL|length_ref=<ref name=sld>[http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/straight-linesonlinegis/ FDOT straight line diagrams] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306153400/http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/straight-linesonlinegis/ |date=March 6, 2014 }}, accessed February 2014</ref>}} {{FLint |county=Collier |cspan=12 |location=Carnestown |mile=0.000 |road={{Jct|state=FL|US|41|name1=Tamiami Trail|CR|29|county2=Collier|dir2=south|city1=Miami|city2=Naples}} }} {{FLint |location=Copeland |mile=2.495 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|837|county1=Collier|dir1=west|name1=Janes Scenic Drive|location1=Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=3.844 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|837|county1=Collier|dir1=east|name1=Wagon Wheel Road}} }} {{FLint |location=Miles City |mile=16.98 |road={{Jct|state=FL|I-Toll|75|name1=SR 93|city1=Naples|city2=Fort Lauderdale}} |notes=Exit 80 on I-75 }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=27.208 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|858|county1=Collier|city1=Ave Maria|location2=Hendry Correctional Institution}} }} {{FLint |location=Immokalee |lspan=5 |mile=36.770 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|846|county1=Collier|dir1=east|extra=airport|location1=Airport}} }} {{FLint |mile=36.902 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|29A|county1=Collier|dir1=north|name1=Newmarket Road East}} }} {{FLint |mile=37.309 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|846|county1=Collier|dir1=west|name1=1st Street|city1=Naples|city2=Bonita Springs|location3=Seminole Casino|location4=Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary}} }} {{FLint |mile=39.183 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|890|county1=Collier|dir1=west|name1=Lake Trafford Road|location1=Ann Olesky Park on Lake Trafford}} }} {{FLint |mile=39.761 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|29A|county1=Collier|dir1=east|name1=Newmarket Road West}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=41.231 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|894|dir1=west|county1=Collier|name1=Experimental Road}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=42.798 |road={{Jct|state=FL|SR|82|dir1=west|city1=Fort Myers}} }} {{FLint |county=Hendry |cspan=9 |location=none |mile=45.829 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|830A|county1=Hendry|dir1=east}} }} {{FLint |location=Felda |mile=46.777 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|830|county1=Hendry|dir1=east}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=50.415 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|832|county1=Hendry|dir1=east|name1=Keri Road|location1=Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest}} }} {{FLint |location=LaBelle |lspan=4 |mile=60.713 |road={{jct|state=FL|SR-Truck|29|dir1=north|name1=North Bridge Street|to2=to|SR|80|dir2=east|location1=Florida Southwestern State College}} }} {{FLint |mile=60.806 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|80A|county1=Hendry|name1=West Cowboy Way}} }} {{FLint |type=concur |mile=61.828 |road={{Jct|state=FL|SR|80|dir1=west|name1=Hickpochee Avenue|city1=Alva}} |notes=South end of SR 80 overlap }} {{FLint |type=concur |mile=61.893 |road={{Jct|state=FL|SR|80|dir1=east|name1=Hickpochee Avenue|SR-Truck|29|dir2=south|name2=Bridge Street|city1=Clewiston}} |notes=North end of SR 80 overlap }} {{jctbridge |location=none |mile=62.42 |bridge=LaBelle Drawbridge over Caloosahatchee River (Okeechobee Waterway) }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=62.878 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|78|county1=Hendry|dir1=west|city1=Fort Denaud}} }} {{FLint |county1=Hendry |county2=Glades |location=none |mile=63.383 |road={{Jct|state=FL|to1=to|CR|731|county1=Glades|road|Whidden Road}} }} {{FLint |county=Glades |cspan=3 |location=none |mile=65.888 |road={{Jct|state=FL|SR|78|dir1=east|city1=Moore Haven}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=75.056 |road={{Jct|state=FL|CR|74|county1=Glades|dir1=west|city1=Punta Gorda}} }} {{FLint |location=none |mile=75.820 |road={{Jct|state=FL|US|27|name1=SR 25|city1=Palmdale|city2=Moore Haven}} }} {{Jctbtm|keys=concur}}

==Related routes==

===LaBelle truck route=== {{Infobox road small |state=FL |type=SR-Truck |route=29 |location=LaBelle |length_mi= |length_round=1 |length_ref= }} '''State Road 29 Truck''' is a truck detour along South Bridge Street. It begins at the northwest corner of LaBelle Airport south of the southeast corner of SR 29 and CR 80A. SR 29 Truck also intersects CR 80A, and runs along the east side of SR 29 until it reaches SR 80 near the Old Hendry County Courthouse.

===County Road 29A (Collier County)=== {{Infobox road small |state=FL |type=CR |route=29A |county=Collier |name=New Market Road |location=Immokalee }} '''County Road 29A''' is a route bypassing Immokalee to the northeast. It runs mostly southeast to northwest, and is named New Market Road.

County Road 29A begins as New Market Road East, as a straight south to north road until it approaches a local fire station on the northeast corner of an access road to Immokalee Airport, and curves to the northwest. The road serves as the headquarters for the Immokalee State Farmer's Market. At Charlotte Street New Market Road East becomes New Market Road West. The straight northwestern to southeastern pattern continues until it curves to the west and approaches the terminus at SR 29 and Westclox Road north of the city, but not before a northbound turning ramp forks off to the right. {{Clear}}

===County Road 29A (Hendry County)=== {{Infobox road small |state=FL |type=CR |route=29A |county=Hendry |name=North Main Street |location=LaBelle }} '''County Road 29A''' is a short, former segment of SR 29 in LaBelle. It runs north along North Main Street from the SR 29/80 multiplex at the Old Hendry County Courthouse to Park Avenue, where it turns east terminating a block later at Bridge Street (SR 29) at the foot of the drawbridge over Caloosahatchee River. This segment of Main Street is the former alignment of SR 29 when the old swing bridge over the river was in service.<ref name="map" /> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Attached KML|display=title,inline}} {{commons category-inline}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20041025115546/http://web.mit.edu/spui/www/flsr/2x.html#29 Florida Route Log (SR 29)]

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