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The Florida Department of Transportation, or '''FDOT''', is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida . It was formed in 1969, absorbing the powers of the old '''State Road Department''' and Florida State Turnpike Authority . ACHIEVEMENTS In 1954 , FDOT completed the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge , the first fixed span to connect Saint Petersburg directly to Bradenton . This shortened the travel time between the two cities greatly, as before cars would have to either use a Ferry or drive about 100 miles around Tampa Bay . A parallel span was completed in 1971 to make the bridge Interstate standard, and it became part of I-275 . After the southbound (newer) span was destroyed in 1980 when the SS ''Summit Venture'' collided with it, a replacement bridge was completed in 1987 . In 1974 , FDOT completed Florida's Turnpike , a 309-mile limited access toll highway that connected the Panhandle area through Orlando to Miami . The turnpike is part of an initiative to finance transportation with user fees. In 2004 , FDOT reopened the I-10 Escambia bridge 17 days after Hurricane Ivan ripped it apart . In recent years, FDOT has had much experience in emergency repairs, including a sinkhole that destroyed most of westbound I-4 in Lake Mary in 2001 , a tanker truck fire that critically damaged a ramp from SR 528 to I-4 in Orlando in 2002 , and a car accident that destroyed an I-75 overpass near Gainesville in 2003 . STRUCTURE Each of FDOT's seven semi-autonomous districts is managed by a District Secretary. The FDOT Secretary is responsible for coordinating the Department as a whole. The Florida Transportation Commission , made up of nine commissioners chosen by Florida's Governor and Legislature , provides oversight for FDOT. On March 5, 2003 , Governor Jeb Bush appointed José Abreu, P.E., as Secretary of FDOT. On June 27, 2005 , Governor Jeb Bush appointed Denver Stutler, Jr., as Secretary of FDOT. Previously, Mr. Sutler was Governor Bush's Chief of Staff. SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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