South Beach Delays Expected for SOBEWFF Finale; Nightly SR-836 Closures to Begin Sunday Night

Major Traffic Impacts for South Beach Wine & Food Festival

Miami residents and visitors should prepare for significant traffic congestion in the South Beach area today, Sunday, February 22, 2026. This marks the final day of the 25th annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival (SOBEWFF). With marquee events like the Goya Foods’ Grand Tasting Village taking place from noon to 5:00 p.m. on the sands of South Beach, the surrounding corridors will see heavy pedestrian and vehicle volume.

Commuters should expect delays on Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue, particularly between 5th Street and 15th Street. Local authorities recommend using the Julia Tuttle Causeway (I-195) as an alternative for travel between the mainland and the Beach to avoid the bottlenecks expected on the MacArthur Causeway. Portions of the beach-side sand tracks remain restricted for event logistics, further tightening local traffic flow through the afternoon.

Nightly Highway Lane Closures: SR 836 and I-395

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX) are continuing work on the massive I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project. While daytime driving is expected to remain fluid on most major arteries, significant nightly closures are scheduled to begin this evening.

• SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway): Starting at 9:00 p.m. tonight, up to two eastbound lanes on SR 836 from NW 17th Avenue to I-95 will be closed for bridge work. These closures are expected to last until 5:30 a.m. Monday morning.
• I-395 Mainline: One eastbound lane on I-395 will be closed from I-95 to Biscayne Boulevard starting at 10:00 p.m. tonight for ongoing work on the Signature Bridge foundations.
• Westbound I-395: Up to two westbound lanes will be closed from Biscayne Boulevard to I-95 beginning at 10:00 p.m. to facilitate concrete pours and segment installation.

Public Transport Alerts and Service Changes

Miami-Dade Transit users should be aware of several updates affecting Sunday travel and the upcoming work week:

• MetroConnect: As of earlier this month, the MetroConnect on-demand transit service no longer operates on weekends. Commuters who previously relied on this service for Sunday travel in zones like South Dade or the Civic Center should utilize alternative Metrobus routes.
• Metrorail Alert: Starting tomorrow, Monday, February 23, the Dadeland South Station will begin a six-week single-tracking period. While service today is normal, riders should use this evening to plan for likely 20-minute delays beginning with the Monday morning commute.
• Metromover: System-wide upgrades are ongoing. While the full system is currently operational, the Financial District station remains a focal point for weekend maintenance, and riders are encouraged to allow extra time for the Brickell Loop.

Drivers are encouraged to check real-time maps before heading out and to exercise caution near the Midtown Interchange construction zones where lane shifts remain in place.