The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has fully reopened the eastbound lanes of State Road 836, commonly known as the Dolphin Expressway, after an unexpected emergency shutdown early Friday morning. The closure occurred at Northwest 17th Avenue due to a mechanical issue involving a crane being used in ongoing construction activities.
According to officials, the lanes were closed “due to a crane mechanical issue” and remained inaccessible until around 10 a.m., forcing drivers to find alternative routes through Miami’s heavily traveled corridors. FDOT noted that one westbound left lane was also temporarily shut down from Interstate 95 to just past Northwest 12th Avenue as crews addressed the issue.
Although the roadway has now reopened, FDOT cautioned that traffic congestion will linger as vehicles merge back into regular lanes. Crews have “cleared the area,” but “motorists should expect delays as traffic returns to normal flow,” officials said.
To minimize congestion, drivers were encouraged to take alternate roads including State Route 112, Flagler Street, Southwest 8th Street and South Dixie Highway. FDOT released a detailed detour plan guiding motorists around the closure:
Friday’s disruption highlighted how quickly Miami’s travel network can be affected by construction-related incidents on key expressways. State Road 836 is one of the city’s most critical commuter and freight routes, connecting Downtown Miami, Miami International Airport, and major coastal corridors. Even short-term closures can cause ripple effects that slow regional travel for hours.
Emergency work involving cranes and roadway structures is increasingly common as Miami accelerates infrastructure upgrades, repairs and modernization projects across the transportation network. With these improvements ongoing, FDOT reminds drivers to stay alert, watch for equipment and workers, and seek alternate routes when notified.
Originally reported by Briana Trujillo in NBC Miami.
