A bumpy stretch of highway leading into the Florida Keys will close at night to allow construction crews to begin a much needed resurfacing.
Originally scheduled to begin in late August, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on Oct. 14 announced nightly road closures of U.S. 1 from Jewfish Creek Bridge at MM 108.4 to the Miami-Dade County line at MM 112.8. According to FDOT, the construction work will happen in two phases to minimize traffic impacts. The northbound lane closes in Key Largo mid-October, while the southbound lane will close in Florida City sometime in late October. The northbound and southbound closures won’t occur simultaneously, according to FDOT.
Nighttime closures will be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. over a nine-month period. Traffic will detour to Card Sound Road. FDOT said tolls will be suspended during these closures.
Tish Burgher, FDOT spokeswoman, said in an August interview with Keys Weekly that the work will bring some 70 nighttime detours to Card Sound Road. The project was originally expected to start in June, but Burgher said a postponement gave FDOT the needed time to analyze a revised plan proposed by the contractor to minimize traffic congestion concerns.
The project will include pavement reconstruction, milling and resurfacing, guardrail improvements, signs and pavement markings and reconfiguring the right turn lanes at three locations to accommodate bicyclists. The $19 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2025.
Truck drivers are reminded that Monroe County has posted new weight restrictions on Card Sound Road on the approach to Mosquito Creek and Tubby’s Creek bridges. Weight for these bridges cannot exceed 21 tons. The department has installed signs at State Road 5 and Card Sound Road to increase awareness of those weight restrictions.
