Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, Chairman Dennis C. Moss and members of the Board of County Commissioners in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, and alongside community and business leaders gathered today for a signing ceremony signifying the financial close of the Port of Miami Tunnel project.

"Just as a manmade shipping channel called Government Cut transformed the Port of Miami for the 20th Century, the Port Tunnel will transform our seaport for the 21st Century," said County Mayor Carlos Alvarez.  "The Port Tunnel's significance cannot be understated, downplayed or dismissed - particularly in this economic time.  As we build it, we will create hundreds of jobs, keep our seaport competitive and transform Downtown Miami."

"Today is a proud day for the City of Miami, Miami-Dade County and the entire state of Florida," said City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.  "The Port of Miami Tunnel Project is an investment in our City's future, bringing jobs, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability to our community, as well as maintaining our global competitiveness."

Construction, which is expected to begin in seven months, includes a tunnel under Government Cut, roadway work on Dodge and Watson Islands and MacArthur Causeway Bridge widening. Twin tubes, each 3,900 feet long and 41 feet in diameter, will reach a depth of 120 feet below the water.  The project will improve access to and from the Port of Miami, serving as a dedicated roadway connector linking the Port with the MacArthur Causeway (State Road A1A) and I-395. The tunnel is expected to be open to traffic by 2014.

For more information on the Port of Miami Tunnel project, please log onto http://www.portofmiamitunnel.com.