Construction crews have completed the vast majority of the concrete pavement replacement on I-95 that is part of the sweeping I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project, reports the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

The massive project is the work of a partnership between FDOT and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and its contractor, the Archer Western – de Moya Group Joint Venture.

In an email to Miami Today, FDOT Communications Specialist Cynthia Turcios said progress continues on the project as the FDOT and its contractor continue work on the three major corridors within the project limits.

“The contractor has completed the vast majority of the concrete pavement replacement on I-95 within the project limits from NW 8 Street to NW 29 Street,” she said.

“Additional work completed includes the extension of a northbound auxiliary lane on northbound I-95 from NW 17 Street to NW 29 Street to add additional capacity, installation of new overhead sign structures and electronic message boards, new drainage, and guardrail,” wrote Ms. Turcios.

The overall project includes a “Signature Bridge” over Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, an upper deck of traffic built over SR 836 and the Miami River, and the addition of one lane to the northbound entrance to I-95.

Ms. Turcios said construction on the new State Road (SR) 836 second level continues from Northwest 17th Avenue to I-95.

The second level roadway will provide drivers with a direct connection to the MacArthur Causeway that is free of local entry and exit traffic. The existing SR 836 roadway (lower level) and bridges will serve as a collector distributor system that allows drivers to enter and exit from the existing local roads and I-95.

This collector distributor system will reduce the existing weaving movements resulting in enhanced safety and better traffic operations on SR 836. “Assembly of the massive, 488-foot-long bridge cap segment and beam lifter has been completed and it is currently being used to erect bridge beams just west of NW 17 Avenue.

“The lifter was specifically designed to install bridge cap segments and beams for this project. To complete the new SR 836 second level roadway, the lifter will erect 145 bridge cap segments and approximately 363 bridge beams,” she wrote.

Each cap segment weighs just over 90 tons and the bridge beams range in length from 100 to 190 feet.

Ms. Turcios offers more details on the project status:

Pier and foundation construction is ongoing east of Northwest 17th Avenue to I-95 including the construction of drilled shaft foundations in the Miami River.

Widening of eastbound SR 836 continues from Northwest 12th Avenue to I-95 to prepare for a future traffic switch to move traffic to the right in order to open up additional areas for foundation and pier construction in the median of SR 836.

Scheduled work for this morning (8/4) is a new second lane on the eastbound SR 836 ramp to northbound I-95 that will be opened to traffic. Aug. 5 is an alternate date.

Ms. Turcios said, “The additional lane, a major milestone for the project, will bring needed relief to drivers in the area that are currently experiencing heavy congestion. The second lane will add capacity and increase mobility for drivers heading north on I-95. In addition to opening the second lane on the ramp to northbound I-95, a second lane will be restored on the ramp to southbound I-95.”

Total reconstruction of the I-395 corridor is making progress with the construction of the segmental bridges from I-95 to just east of Northeast First Avenue and the construction of the signature bridge that will span over 1,000 feet from just west of Northeast Second Avenue to the MacArthur Causeway.

The contractor has erected over 854 individual pre-cast segments for the eastbound and westbound bridges that will carry traffic to local roadways and also connect with SR 836 and I-95.

These new bridges, being constructed on either side of the existing I-395, are scheduled to be open to traffic late this year. Once eastbound and westbound traffic are placed on the new bridges, the existing roadway can be demolished and construction of the new center portion of I-395 can begin.

“Progress continues at the signature bridge with completion of the cast in place starter arch segments and the start of pre-cast arch segment erection at arch two, one of the four arches under construction during this phase of the signature bridge construction.

“Crews are placing forms at arch one for the cast in place starter arch segments and dewatering is ongoing at arches four and five. Arches three and six (south side) will start construction in a later phase,” wrote Ms. Turcios.

The massive center pier footer between Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard just north of the existing I-395 is taking shape with completion of the footer, legs and first level cap.

Crews are now placing forms for the second level cap.

“The signature bridge is currently 27% complete. Several traffic bypasses are being constructed to help advance the signature bridge work and to isolate the signature bridge so that the rest of the project won’t be delayed by the signature bridge phasing,” she said.

Ms. Turcios said completion of the project has been pushed ahead to summer 2026 due to the pandemic and supply chain issues, additional design time and construction delays for the signature bridge, anticipated weather, and work restrictions due to special events and holidays.

The entire project is expected to cost about $818 million.

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