U.S. 1 southbound shut down in Coral Gables as morning rush hour starts

A 6 a.m. two-car crash at Grand Avenue shut down all U.S. 1 lanes in both directions in Coral Gables Monday morning. Northbound lanes were reopened around 7:30 a.m. but there are major backups.

Consider the Palmetto Expressway or sliding through Coconut Grove as alternate options for getting north, toward downtown.

Before the reopening, northbound traffic, already backing up significantly as school drop-offs intersect with the start of the workweek, was diverted off U.S. 1 at Ponce de Leon Boulevard. U.S. 1 southbound traffic is being diverted at Southwest 37th Avenue, Douglas Road.

How the crash happened at a point where there’s a significant median is still under investigation.

This breaking news story will be updated as more information is available.

This story was originally published March 27, 2017 at 7:33 AM with the headline "U.S. 1 southbound shut down in Coral Gables as morning rush hour starts."