Big Changes On I-595 May Frustrate Some Drivers

DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Big changes on I-595 over the next several weeks could add even more frustration to the morning and evening commute.

As of Sunday night, the on-ramp to the highway from westbound State Road 84 was permanently closed. Drivers now have to stay on a recently finished section of S.R. 84 and merge onto the highway after Davie Road. Also, westbound I-595 will be reduced to three lanes from S.R. 7 to the on-ramp from Florida's Turnpike.

"It's so much construction," said Carl Ellington, who is tired of all the roadwork, "So much traffic. It's too much."

A new ramp allows drivers to access Davie Road via S.R. 84, without merging onto I-595 and another lane was added to the westbound S.R. 84 intersection at Davie Road which now has a fourth lane. The signal at that intersection, however, will be changed so that westbound S.R. 84 traffic must stop at Davie Road.

"This will eliminate two of the weaving conflicts in that area," said I-595 Express project construction manager Paul Lampley. "We just need to be cautious.  We do have a lot of lane changes and closures."

Mary Jones just wishes the I-595 project was over.

"I experience many problems, being late for work and church because of the construction on 595," said Jones.

Another really big change will happen July 14th-15th when the I-95 and University Drive intersection will be closed to traffic workers can raise the flyover to eastbound I-595. The flyover must be lifted off its foundation so it can be extended and connected to new eastbound lanes.

But it doesn't end there. The flyover ramp from southbound University to eastbound I-595 will be closed for about four months. Project officials hope to have it re-opened before Thanksgiving.

The flyover from northbound University to westbound 1-95 will also be closed for several weeks, however that won't happen until all the other flyover work is done.

The I-595 Express Corridor Improvements Project began in February 2010. The project consists of the reconstruction of the I-595 mainline from the I-75/Sawgrass Expressway interchange to the I-595/I-95 interchange on I-595 for 10.5 miles and from Peters Road to Griffin Road on Florida's Turnpike for 2.5 miles for a total project length of 13 miles.

The $1.8 billion project, which is more than 50 percent complete, includes the reconstruction of the Turnpike Interchange, the addition of auxiliary lanes on the I-595 mainline, the addition of braided ramps and bypass ramps between SR 84 and I-595, and a new reversible express lanes system in the I-595 median.