Gap Cut Into Old Tamiami Trail To Boost Water Flow

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) —Another step has been taken to increase the flow of water into Everglades National Park.

The South Florida Water Management District on Wednesday cut through a 35-foot-long section of the Old Tamiami Trail to drain water south from state-managed wetlands in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

District spokesman Randy Smith says high water is reducing wildlife habitat. Smith says the area also is too saturated to receive water being released to reduce pressure on Lake Okeechobee's aging dike.

The old highway is no longer in use. The gap is several miles west of a bridge that raised a mile of U.S. 41 to improve water flow into the park. Gov. Rick Scott has proposed raising an additional 2.6 miles of the same highway.

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