Construction crews continue to lay new water pipes into the ground in Islamorada. The work will stop during the busy Fourth of July, however, with heavy congestion expected on U.S. 1 in the village.
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority stated that crews will halt work on the transmission main replacement project and suspend the rolling lane closure near MM 82 from Friday, June 30 until 12:01 a.m. on July 5. Between 1,000- and 1,500-foot sections of U.S. 1 have been closed off to motorists to allow crews to install the new 36-inch pipe into the ground. Two lanes of traffic remain open despite the rolling lane closure.
Workers have installed more than 8,000 feet of new pipe as of June 22. The work began in April as crews installed about 900 feet of 42-inch pipe under the seabed at the Tea Table crossing to mitigate any wear from high winds and storm surge. The roughly 4 miles of new pipe being placed between MM 80 and MM 84 in the village is protected against corrosion and climate effects, according to FKAA. Project costs are around $42 million.
Installation of the new pipe is expected to last through February 2025, but FKAA said traffic issues will be lessened by March 2024. Work will halt for upcoming major holidays and events, including lobster mini-season, from July 26-27, and Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-4.
