Major Closures on SW 8th Street and I-95: Miami Commute Guide for Friday, Jan 30

Morning Commute Overview

Commuters in Miami should prepare for a challenging Friday morning, particularly those traversing major east-west corridors and residents near the Brickell district. While the standard end-of-week traffic volume is expected to rise by mid-morning, several ongoing construction projects and scheduled roadway closures will further complicate travel times. Authorities recommend allowing an extra 15 to 20 minutes for trips involving the I-95 corridor and SW 8th Street.

Major Arteries and Highway Alerts

• I-95 Northbound Flyover Ramp: The flyover ramp roadway project that began on January 19 remains in full swing. Drivers should expect intermittent lane shifts and reduced speeds near the ramp interchanges, which may cause significant backup during peak hours.
• Golden Glades Interchange (GGI): Construction at the GGI continues to affect the intersection of I-95, the Palmetto Expressway, and the Florida Turnpike. Ramps and connector lanes are subject to temporary detours, especially for those transitioning from the Palmetto to northbound I-95.
• Palmetto Expressway (S.R. 826): Recent updates indicate lane closures on the northbound ramp to I-75. While these are often scheduled for overnight hours, residual congestion is likely to impact early morning travelers heading toward Hialeah and beyond.

Local Roadworks and Key Closures

Local commuters should be aware of high-impact closures in the following areas:

• SW 8th Street (S.R. 90): A full closure remains in effect between SW 107th Avenue and SW 117th Avenue. This long-term project for infrastructure rehabilitation requires all through-traffic to utilize SW 24th Street (Coral Way) or SW 40th Street (Bird Road) as primary detours.
• Brickell Key Bridge: Phase 3 of the superstructure repairs on the westbound Brickell Key Bridge is currently active. Traffic is restricted as crews work on the rehabilitation of the bridge over Brickell Bay. Expect slow-moving traffic on SE 8th Street and Brickell Key Drive throughout the day.
• PBI Access: For those driving north toward the Palm Beach International Airport, today marks the final day of the James L. Turnage Blvd. exit closure to Australian Avenue. Expect local detours to remain in place until the late evening.

Public Transport and Transit Updates

Miami-Dade Transit reports that Metrorail service will be returning to normal following scheduled single-tracking maintenance performed late Thursday night between the Vizcaya and Dr. Martin L. King Jr. stations. While full service is expected for the Friday morning rush, riders should check the GO Miami-Dade Transit app for any lingering delays or residual frequency adjustments on the Green and Orange lines. Additionally, Metrobus routes 510 and 344 continue to operate under modified schedules to improve reliability amid current traffic conditions.

Travel Recommendations

To avoid the heaviest congestion, commuters are encouraged to use the 836/Dolphin Expressway for east-west travel, though they should watch for bridge work near NW 17th Avenue. If possible, utilizing the Metromover for downtown trips can bypass the heavy gridlock currently seen around the Brickell and Government Center areas.