Drivers get a new shortcut to I-95 downtown

A new westbound I-395 ramp connecting to southbound I-95 is scheduled to open Thursday, November 5. If weather delays the work, the opening moves to Wednesday, November 11. The change allows drivers heading south on I-95 to enter the highway about 500 feet earlier than they have in the past.

The new layout removes a previous merge point that often caused congestion. Overhead signs will guide motorists to their destinations. One left lane now leads directly to the new southbound I-395 ramp. Two center lanes continue toward westbound State Road 836, while one right lane heads to northbound I-95.

Florida Department of Transportation officials describe the ramp opening as a major step in the design-build project. The work has disrupted traffic patterns in downtown Miami for several years. After earlier delays, officials now expect the entire project to finish in late 2029.

Construction crews began work on two large components this summer. One is a mechanically stabilized earth wall that supports the westbound roadway as it moves from the MacArthur Causeway to the new elevated I-395 Signature Bridge. The other was a major concrete pour for the new double-deck State Road 836 roadway located just west of the Miami River.

The project costs $866 million and is a partnership between the Florida Department of Transportation, the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, and the Archer Western de Moya Group Joint Venture. It includes the Signature Bridge, which spans Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. The plan also adds an upper deck of traffic over State Road 836 and the Miami River, plus an additional lane on the northbound entrance to I-95.

The primary goals of the construction are to add capacity, improve traffic flow and safety, and enhance access along I-395, State Road 836, and I-95. The new ramp is the first major piece of the new configuration to become available to the public.