Traffic woes caused by a water transmission main project won’t last much longer, as crews are nearing the end of installation of new, larger pipe in Tavernier.
Project manager Aaron Cutler, who provided a brief update to the Islamorada council at its April 7 meeting, said workers are approaching Julep Road, where the final stretch of transmission main will be laid. The $39 million project on Plantation Key began in early 2025, as crews placed a new pipeline via an open-cut trench from Snake Creek Bridge to Tavernier. A new transmission main was also installed underwater at Tavernier Creek Bridge to prevent deterioration from potential storms.
One northbound lane of U.S. 1 has been closed with crews needing room for heavy equipment and space to work. Between the closure and more vehicles during spring break, congestion has created longer travel times during the later part of the week days, particularly from 3 p.m. past 6 p.m.
“We continue to have meetings every week with the sheriff’s office, with the school board to make sure buses can run. We’re doing as much as we can do to help with traffic,” Cutler said. “The biggest initiative on that is to try to keep people on Old Highway and some of that traffic to the lights and keep the (traffic at the) north-south lights moving as much as possible.”
Cutler added that contractors have altered their work plans. For instance, trucks aren’t coming in and out of the work zone during the peak traffic hours of 2 to 6 p.m. They’ve also employed sheriff’s deputies to prevent motorists from cutting onto U.S. 1 from Woods Avenue and Fontaine Drive, funneling vehicles to the traffic light at the Bessie Drive and U.S. 1 intersection.
“We’ve done a lot to try and make the situation better,” he said. “I do think the last week and maybe two weeks, it’s lightened somewhat in the afternoons from what we’re seeing. It’s still there in the afternoons though.”
Once crews place new transmission main to Julep Road at the end of April, Cutler said, construction equipment will come off the road.
“It will help the situation a lot,” he said.
Cutler added crews will spend May to June connecting the new water main transmission. By July, crews will work to restore the areas they dug up, and that includes repaving the northbound lane.
With the project nearing completion, FKAA is turning its attention to the next phase in an effort to install new pipelines throughout the island chain. FKAA engineer director David Hackworth told council members their next target is MM 72 south to Channel 2 Bridge. Like the work seen at Tea Table Relief, Whale Harbor and Tavernier Creek crossings, Hackworth said they will be installing the new transmission main beneath the water at Channel 2 Bridge.
“Our strategy, we have 44 bridge crossings between Key West and Florida City. Each one is vulnerable to hurricanes and someone hitting the bridge,” he said.
The village agreed to apply for a Community Development Block Grant administered by FloridaCommerce to help FKAA fund costs associated with installing 2,200 linear feet of transmission main beneath the water at Channel 2 Bridge. It’s expected to cost $4.8 million, Hackworth said.
“This won’t impact traffic like the other subaqueous crossings,” he said. “This one will be much smoother, side of the road. … It’s a less congested area and no high schools.”
