I-595 Flyover Raised In Time For Morning Commute

DAVIE (CBSMiami) – Just in time for the Monday morning commute, I-595 at University Drive is open for business – for the most part.

Over the weekend, the highway and road were closed so Florida Department of Transportation workers could lift the ramp from southbound University Drive to eastbound I-595 approximately 18 inches. The FDOT said it was the largest project it has ever done. It was also the most technical, as a number of hydraulic jacks were used to lift five million five hundred and 55 thousand pounds of concrete.

"It only moves an inch an hour so it's not real fast but it's great, it's fascinating," said Dan Jones who came out to watch the ramp being lifted.

But lifting the ramp was only one part of the job.

"We have to take off the last 250 foot of the bridge and we'll have to shift the bridge slightly to the south to allow those lanes to go under it," said project manager Paul Lampley.

Those new lanes will become reversible to accommodate traffic demands.

"It's amazing that they're building it, it's just fantastic," said Jones.

"A little too slow for me but pretty cool, can't really see much but I'll say it's a feat of engineering that's for sure," said 12-year old Jimmy Bateman.

While the ramps from northbound University Drive to I-595 opened as scheduled, the southbound University Drive flyover at eastbound I-595 won't re-open until November, prior to Thanksgiving.