It’s open? It’s closed? What drivers can expect during Fort Lauderdale tunnel repairs

If you travel through Fort Lauderdale, chances are you’ve zipped through the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel. But over the past two years, the tunnel zone has been a headache zone.

Constant construction has been a nuisance to drivers who want to get across the New River to and from the Las Olas and downtown areas.

KNOW MORE: South Florida’s two underwater tunnels

Now, the tunnel area will be a nuisance a bit longer. This week, the completion date was pushed back from December to early 2024.

The Fort Lauderdale tunnel is one of two underwater tunnels in South Florida — the PortMiami tunnel from the MacArthur Causeway to Dodge Island is the other. The namesake of the Fort Lauderdale tunnel, which opened in 1960, was the founding editor of the Broward edition of the Miami Herald, Henry E. Kinney, who advocated for a tunnel to replace an old bridge across the New River.

Here’s what to know about the tunnel construction project:

What’s happening to Fort Lauderdale tunnel?

The $28.4 million rehab project will upgrade structural, mechanical, electrical and safety components, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The state also is resurfacing a section of Federal Highway, U.S. 1.

But it’s not just under-the-surface improvements. The project also includes a pedestrian plaza on top of the tunnel. The plaza includes fountains, seating, artificial turf and landscaping, art, and a new intersection at Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast Sixth Avenue.

Why is the tunnel project delayed?

Weather delays and material shortages across the state slowed the project’s timeline, the Florida Department of Transportation says.

Like much of downtown Fort Lauderdale, the Kinney tunnel flooded during the “unprecedented” rainfall and flooding in April. The tunnel, which has been closed occasionally during construction, also was shut down during the height of the floods so that crews could “safely implement remediation efforts.”

What should I know before driving through the tunnel?

During this phase of construction, southbound U.S. 1 is diverted to the northbound tunnel chamber, where one lane in each direction is being maintained, FDOT says. That traffic pattern will swap during the summer, with northbound U.S. 1 diverted to the southbound tunnel chamber.

The tunnel should fully open to traffic by late 2023, depending on weather and any surprises, , according to FDOT.

Caught in a closing? Here are possible detours

If traveling southbound on U.S. 1: Head to Broward Boulevard, Southeast Third Avenue and Southeast Seventh Street

Traveling northbound on U.S. 1: Head to Southeast Seventh Street, Southeast Third Avenue and Broward Boulevard

This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 5:51 AM.

Grethel Aguila

Miami Herald

Grethel covers courts and the criminal justice system for the Miami Herald. She graduated from the University of Florida (Go Gators!), speaks Spanish and Arabic and loves animals, traveling, basketball and good storytelling. Grethel also attends law school part time.