Florida Department of Transportation officials want a northbound lane and two southbound lanes open on U.S. 1 in Tavernier and Islamorada where contractors are working to replace aged water transmission main.
That’s according to Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority Executive Director Greg Veliz, who met with FDOT and other local officials last Tuesday to address major traffic backups caused by the closure of U.S. 1 northbound between Coral Shores High School at MM 90 and the traffic light at Tavernier Towne Center. Northbound traffic was diverted into a southbound lane on U.S. 1 as a result.
Congestion due to the traffic pattern resulted in backups extending 5 miles in both directions, as well as travel times increasing from 15 minutes to nearly 2 hours for some motorists on Monday. Southbound traffic was backed up more than 7 miles on Tuesday morning. The project was put on hold after FDOT instructed FKAA on Tuesday to safely reopen all lanes to alleviate the congestion.
Veliz said FKAA remains in contact with FDOT with the goal of keeping the project moving; it remains unknown when it will resume.
“I would have preferred not to pull the project and make the adjustments as needed,” Veliz said. “The severity of traffic and proximity to the school … it was the perfect storm. We could have done better.
“This is not an optionable project,” Veliz continued. “This is something that has to happen. We timed it so when we do the open cut in front of the high school it’s in the summer. Otherwise that would be highly impactful if we did that during the school year.”
In a statement to Keys Weekly, FDOT said it’s committed to working with FKAA to minimize the impacts to the traveling public as much as possible. But some delays should still be expected once the project restarts.
During a Feb. 25 meeting, Monroe County school board members acknowledged that they’d like to see the project go forward as planned to avoid any major disruptions at Coral Shores High School and Plantation Key School in the fall.
FKAA says the project ensures clean drinking water for the coming decades. Current pipes are well past their lifespan, meaning they’re susceptible to corrosion and breaks such as the ones witnessed in Islamorada in 2023. Work to replace aged water main transmission was successfully completed from Tea Table Relief at MM 79.5 up through Windley Key last year.
Questions about the project should be directed to FKAA at 305-296-2425 or email at
https://www.fkaa.com/307/Contact-the-FKAA; and FDOT at 800-226-2368 or email at fdotmiamidade.com.
