MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There’s a big change for drivers who take the Dolphin Expressway where it meets with the Palmetto.

A brand new bridge opened Friday that connects the eastbound Dolphin (SR 836) to the northbound lanes of the Palmetto (SR 826).

Drivers who take the bridge will need to exit one mile earlier, immediately after NW 87th Avenue to access the new Palmetto (SR 826) northbound bridge.

If drivers miss the bridge ramp, they must continue east to the Northwest 72nd Avenue exit, than loop back onto westbound 836 to the northbound 826 ramp.

The bridge is one of the key pieces in the overhaul of the interchange between the two heavily traveled roadways next to Miami International Airport.

The massive bridge, the first of four, is the final piece of a 12-section FDOT project to improve the Palmetto.

The project is expected to be completed sometime in 2015.