Major Road Closures on SW 8th Street and I-95 Flyover Impact Thursday Commute

Morning Traffic Overview

Good morning, Miami. For this Thursday, January 29, 2026, commuters should prepare for several significant construction projects impacting major arteries. While the morning rush began with standard congestion on the I-95 corridor and the Palmetto Expressway, specific long-term and recently launched projects are requiring extra travel time and the use of alternate routes.

Major Roadwork and Closures

• SW 8th Street (Calle Ocho): A critical full closure remains in effect on S.R. 90/SW 8th Street between SW 107th Avenue and SW 117th Avenue. This closure is part of a major roadway rehabilitation and pedestrian safety project. Commuters are advised to use SW 24th Street (Coral Way) or SW 40th Street (Bird Road) as primary east-west alternates to avoid the gridlock near the FIU campus area.
• I-95 Northbound Flyover: Construction work continues on the S.R. 9A/I-95 Northbound Flyover Ramp project. Since its launch on January 19, this project has led to intermittent lane shifts and narrowed lanes near the interchange. Expect lingering delays during the transition from the flyover to the main northbound lanes throughout the morning peak.
• Palmetto Expressway (S.R. 826) to I-75: Following lane closures that began last week, the ramp connecting Northbound S.R. 826 to Northbound I-75 is experiencing restricted capacity. Drivers heading toward Hialeah and into Broward County should anticipate slower speeds and merging bottlenecks through this interchange.
• Port Boulevard (S.R. 886): The roadway project at the entrance to the Port of Miami is currently impacting traffic flow. If you are heading to the Port for work or a cruise, be mindful of construction crews and potential lane narrowing on the bridge.

Public Transport and Transit Alerts

Miami-Dade Transit reports mostly on-time service this morning, though some specific service updates are in effect:

• Metro Express BRT: The new all-electric Bus Rapid Transit system on the South Dade TransitWay is now a permanent fixture for southern commuters. Drivers in the area are reminded of the newly activated gate arms at intersections along the TransitWay; please use caution as these arms are synchronized with high-speed bus arrivals.
• Metrorail Single-Tracking: While morning service is unaffected, riders planning to return home late tonight should be aware that single-tracking for track maintenance begins after 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, which may result in 20-minute wait times between trains.
• Metromover Upgrades: System-wide upgrades continue. While all loops are open for the morning commute, be prepared for occasional platform closures for equipment maintenance throughout the day.

Commuter Strategy

Due to the full closure on SW 8th Street, traffic is trending heavier than usual on the Florida Turnpike and the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836). We recommend leaving at least 20 minutes early if your route involves the Tamiami or Sweetwater areas. For those heading north, utilizing the I-95 express lanes may help bypass the flyover construction, though toll pricing is expected to rise as demand increases toward the 9:00 a.m. hour.