Miami Opens New I-395 Ramp to I-95 Ahead of 2029 Deadline
The Florida Department of Transportation and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency are shifting traffic patterns in downtown Miami as part of a $866 million infrastructure overhaul.
By Aiko Soto ·
Downtown Miami traffic patterns will shift this week as a new westbound I-395 ramp to southbound I-95 opens to drivers. The Florida Department of Transportation and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency scheduled the opening for Thursday, Nov. 5, though weather conditions could push the date to Nov. 11. This change is one step in a massive design-build project that has disrupted the area for years.
The new configuration forces drivers heading southbound to I-95 to enter the ramp approximately 500 feet earlier than before. Overhead signs will direct these vehicles onto the new lane. This adjustment eliminates the previous merger point, which officials say will improve traffic flow.
The lane structure changes at this transition point. One left lane is dedicated to the new southbound I-395 ramp. Two center lanes remain for westbound State Road 836 traffic. A single right lane continues to northbound I-95. The Archer Western de Moya Group Joint Venture, the project contractor, is overseeing these adjustments.
Work began in the summer on two major components of the project. Crews constructed a mechanically stabilized earth wall to support the westbound roadway as it transitions from the MacArthur Causeway. They also completed a major concrete pour for the new double-decked State Road 836 roadway located just west of the Miami River. These structures support the upcoming construction of the Signature Bridge.
The project is estimated to cost $866 million and is a partnership between the state and local agencies. It includes the construction of the Signature Bridge over Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard. The bridge will feature an upper deck of traffic built over State Road 836 and the Miami River. The plan also adds one lane to the northbound entrance to I-95.
The goal is to add capacity and improve safety along I-395, State Road 836, and I-95. While the FDOT calls the ramp opening a milestone, the overall job is expected to be finished in late 2029. Earlier delays in the work have pushed the timeline, meaning drivers will continue to face construction activity in the heart of downtown Miami for several more years.
