The white minivan/shuttle bus in the foreground of State Road 836 aka the Dolphin Expressway is taking the Northwest 17th Avenue exit, just as drivers will have to during overnight closures for construction until next Thursday.
dneal@miamiherald.com
The bad news for drivers who take the Dolphin Expressway on their way to Miami Beach, downtown Miami or Interstate 95: part of eastbound State Road 836 will be closed for a few hours each day until the morning of May 24.
The good news: It really shouldn’t affect weekday rush hours (much).
You might, however, be surprised by early weekend morning detours through Little Havana. Here’s what you need to know.
When will State Road 836 be closed?
This all starts with a 10-hour closure from 11 p.m. Friday until 9 a.m. Saturday. Saturday, it starts at 10 p.m. and goes until 8 a.m. Sunday.
From then on, starting Sunday, the shut down will start each night at 10 p.m. and end the following morning at 5:30 a.m. The last closure should end at 5:30 a.m. on May 24.
Where will the Dolphin be closed?
Eastbound State Road 836 will be closed from Northwest 17th Avenue to Interstate 95. So, this also affects those who usually get on the eastbound Dolphin at Northwest 12th Avenue.
This is being done so a bridge support can be installed over the Dolphin’s eastbound lanes as part of the I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project, which includes the construction of an upper-deck roadway above State Road 836.
What are the alternate routes?
All highway traffic will be forced off at Northwest 17th Avenue and directed to go down to Southwest First Street. Those who use the Northwest 12th Avenue entrances also are directed to go down to Southwest First Street.
The official detour says take a left turn at Southwest First Street. People heading for Interstate 95 go to Miami Avenue, turn south (right), then right again to the I-95 entrance you need. People who want to head for Miami Beach are asked to stay on First Street to Biscayne Boulevard, swing north (left) on Biscayne and pick up I-395 off Biscayne.
Unofficial options for those coming off the expressway start with getting quickly over into the left turn lane on Northwest Seventh Street or waiting to turn left onto Northwest Third Street.
If on Northwest Seventh, stay on the street until the light at Northwest Seventh Avenue. Take the left over the drawbridge and the right onto Northwest Fifth Street. Go to Northwest Third Avenue for I-95 north, Northwest Third Court for I-95 south or keep going into downtown.
If on Northwest Third Street, stay on the street until it hits Northwest Eighth Avenue. Take a left onto Eighth Avenue, go over the drawbridge and take the right onto Northwest Fifth Street.
An unofficial option if you usually take the Northwest 12th Avenue entrances and want I-95 is to turn east onto Northwest 11th Street then turn right at the next light. At the light at Northwest Seventh Avenue, stay straight onto Northwest Eighth Street. Go to Northwest Third Avenue for I-95 north or Northwest Third Court for I-95 south. Keep going to Biscayne Boulevard and take a left for I-395.
