Traffic alert: Flooding shuts down streets in downtown Fort Lauderdale and near airport

Here’s a big commuting tip for Thursday morning: Stay away from downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Here’s what to know:

Downtown corridor

▪ The Henry E. Kinney Tunnel is closed along U.S. 1 under the New River.

▪ The Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE Sixth St., and State Attorney’s Offices will be closed Thursday, although first appearances remain scheduled for 1 p.m., the Broward SAO said.

▪ Cars are getting through on Oakland Park Boulevard, slaloming around stalled cars.

▪ The Florida Department of Transportation said flooding shut down eastbound Broward Boulevard at West 18th Avenue, as of 9:01 a.m. Westbound Broward Boulevard at U.S. 1 reopened after 1 p.m. The City of Fort Lauderdale said from the 900 block to the 2800 block of West Broward Boulevard was “impassable” Thursday morning.

▪ Also called “impassable” by the city government as of 9:10 a.m.: Southeast 17th Street, west of U.S. 1; Davie Boulevard, west of the 700 block; Las Olas Boulevard, east of Southwest Seventh Avenue; Southwest 11th Avenue around the swing bridge; Southwest 27th Avenue between Broward Boulevard and Davie Boulevard; Southwest 31st Avenue, between Browrad Bouelvard and Davie Boulevard; State Road 84 at Southwest 15th Avenue.

Reaction

“Flooding, and immobile cars all littered throughout Broward Blvd this morning east of I-95.” Total Traffic warned on Twitter.

Dozens of cars are stuck in the high water east of the Brightline tracks, according to video footage.

“It’s still very flooded,” said CBS News Miami traffic reporter Austin Carter, noting inaccessible and closed roads in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Airport area

Areas around Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Dania Beach also remain flooded.

One airport access road, the upper-level “Departures,” opened early Thursday so stranded travelers can be picked up.

But the lower level roadway as well as the entire airport remain shut down Thursday morning. FLL isn’t expected to reopen until at least noon.

School traffic

School traffic will be lighter Thursday. Broward County Public Schools are shut down for the day. Miami-Dade County Public Schools remain open.

This report will be updated.

This story was originally published April 13, 2023 at 6:07 AM.

David J. Neal

Miami Herald

305-376-3559

Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.

Jeff Kleinman

Miami Herald

305-376-3561

Consumer Team Editor Jeff Kleinman oversees coverage for health, shopping, real estate, tourism and recalls/scams/fraud.