Sometimes it seems like construction projects around South Florida never end. One major project, however, is getting close. Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera visited PortMiami this week to tour the tunnel being built there. He says in about 80 days, your commute downtown could get a little shorter.
Construction of the Port of Miami Tunnel Project started back in 2010. The tunnel will provide a direct connection between PortMiami and highways via Watson Island to I-395. This will force large, oversized trucks underground and off surface streets, which Lopez-Cantera says should ultimately ease traffic congestion downtown.
"[Trucks are] probably using the same route you use to get here, over the bridge," Lopez-Cantera says. "It would get them off the surface roads and into the Port without impacting downtown traffic by using the tunnel."
Project deadlines are very strict, so Lopez-Cantera says tunnel construction is both on schedule and on budget. This is partly due to the over-deadline penalty of $124,000 every day the project is late, which builders are trying to avoid.
Lopez-Cantera says once the tunnel opens on May 19, drivers can expect a shorter commute.
"The residents around here will hopefully see less traffic congestion," Lopez-Cantera says." "[They'll see] more... regular cars rather than the huge trucks you've seen downtown ever since the Port has been here."