Morning Gridlock on US-1 and Heavy Beach Traffic for SOBEWFF

Miami Traffic Alert: Fatal Crashes on US-1 and Festival Congestion

Commuters in Miami are facing a difficult Friday morning this February 20, 2026. A series of serious incidents in South Miami-Dade and the kickoff of a major international festival in Miami Beach are creating significant bottlenecks across the county's primary arteries. Commuters are advised to allow for extra travel time or seek alternative routes where possible.

Emergency Closures: Fatal Incidents on US-1

The morning commute has been severely impacted by two separate fatal crashes on South Dixie Highway (US-1). In the early hours of Friday morning, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal rollover crash on the southbound lanes of US-1 and Southwest 112th Street. Shortly after, a second fatal incident was reported further south at the intersection of US-1 and Southwest 208th Drive. These incidents have forced the closure of multiple southbound lanes, leading to heavy tailbacks reaching into Pinecrest. Traffic is being diverted onto the Florida Turnpike as an alternative for those traveling toward Homestead.

Event Alert: South Beach Wine & Food Festival

The South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF) is now in full swing, running through Sunday, February 22. Drivers heading toward Miami Beach should expect heavy congestion and limited parking. Specifically, the following areas are seeing increased delays:

• MacArthur Causeway: Eastbound traffic is heavily congested as visitors head toward the main festival tents near Lummus Park.
• Collins Avenue and Ocean Drive: Localized road closures and heavy pedestrian traffic are reported between 5th and 15th Streets.
• Julia Tuttle Causeway: This remains a viable alternative, though volume is higher than usual for a Friday morning.

Planned Construction: Nighttime Highway Closures

While the morning peak focuses on surface streets, the I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project continues to affect the overnight commute. For those planning to be on the road late tonight, Friday, February 20, please note these scheduled closures starting at 11:00 PM:

• SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway): All eastbound travel lanes will be closed at NW 17th Avenue from 11:00 PM tonight until 7:00 AM Saturday morning.
• I-95 Northbound: Up to four lanes will be closed from NW 8th Street to NW 29th Street starting at 11:00 PM through 11:00 AM on Saturday.
• Biscayne Boulevard: One eastbound lane remains closed near 2138 Biscayne Boulevard for ongoing maintenance until 5:00 PM today.

Public Transit Reminders

Miami-Dade Transit reports that MetroConnect service is operational today until 7:00 PM. Riders of the Metromover should be aware that the system will open late tomorrow, Saturday, February 21, at 2:00 PM for the Metromover Upgrade Project. Free bus shuttles will be provided during the downtime tomorrow morning.