News Release Header
For Immediate Release:
August 02, 2014
Media Contact:
Andria C. Muniz
[email protected]
305-347-4962
786-299-2410

Nusly Alea
[email protected]
305-960-5458
786-502-5140

PortMiami Tunnel to open Sunday, August 3rd first official drive-thru!


(MIAMI,August 2, 2014) - The PortMiami Tunnel is opening on Sunday, August 3rd.  Officials from Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, the Federal Highway Administration, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), Miami Access Tunnel, Bouygues Civil Works Florida and PortMiami partners will be participating in the first official drive-thru at 10 a.m.

Media is welcome to stage on the PortMiami side of the tunnel in the westbound lane at 9:00 a.m.  Miami-Dade Police will be on-site to direct media to the staging area.

At 10:30 a.m. Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez will lead the media as the first vehicles leave PortMiami westbound through the tunnel.

BACKGROUND
The tunnel will provide two dedicated lanes in each direction connecting the airport and interstate highway directly to and from PortMiami. Both cruise and cargo traffic will be able to use the tunnel to access PortMiami. The tunnel restrictions are a maximum height of 15 feet, a maximum width of 8 feet 6 inches, and no placard and hazmat cargo are allowed in the tunnel. Restricted cargo will continue to use the Port Boulevard Bridge.

Drivers are encouraged to call 511 before they drive or log on to www.fl511.com to get real-time traffic and lane closure information.

PortMiami is second only to Miami International Airport as the most powerful economic generator in South Florida. The Port’s economic viability is extremely important to the citizens of Miami-Dade County and needed to continue expanding its capacity.

Prior to the tunnel being built, the only way into the Port was through Port Boulevard. That caused heavy truck traffic, cruise line buses and private cars to congest the narrow Central Business District, preventing downtown Miami from reaching its full potential.

The Tunnel Project consisted of three components:

The PortMiami Tunnel will improve access to and from the Port, serving as a dedicated roadway connector linking the Port with the MacArthur Causeway (State Road A1A) and I-395. The Port is located on Dodge Island, a 518-acre island in Biscayne Bay and connected to the city of Miami solely by the Port Boulevard Bridge. All traffic currently enters and exits the island on the existing bridge. Both cruise terminals and cargo handling facilities are located on the island. Cruise and administration facilities are mostly located on the northwest quadrant of the Port, while Royal Caribbean offices and Cruise Terminal J are at the southwest corner. Container yards and space for ships to maneuver and park comprise the remainder of the island.  Entering the Port, cargo and cruise traffic are routed onto separate roadways from a point just east of Port Boulevard Bridge. An existing bridge for outbound cargo traffic provides a grade separation with the inbound cruise roadway.

About PortMiami
PortMiami is among America's busiest ports and recognized across the globe with the dual distinction of being the Cruise Capital of the World and the Cargo Gateway of the Americas. PortMiami contributes more than $27 billion annually to the South Florida economy.

Who:
PortMiami
What:
PORTMIAMI TUNNEL OPENING
When:
August 03, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
Where:
PortMiami, Dodge Island Westbound Tunnel Portal