South Dixie Highway faces 10 months of disruption

A 10-month roadway project that was to begin this week is expected to close driving lanes from time to time along two segments of normally congested South Dixie Highway, which is US 1.

One segment of the work will run from Riviera Drive to Ponce de Leon Boulevard in Coral Gables. The other stretch of work will be from Southwest 27th Avenue to Southwest 37th Avenue.

According to the Florida Departmeaznt of Transportation, work will include installing underground drainage and pipe, replacing sections of curbs, gutters and sidewalks; installing new roadway lighting for both southbound and northbound traffic; modifying traffic signal systems and mast arms; repaving and restriping of the roadway in both segments; and replacing some sod.

Construction will be done in stages so as to minimize impact on peak driving periods and during special events, the department said.

The department said that the work will skip segments of the roadway and sidewalk where the upgrading has already taken place.

Meanwhile, crews will be paving US 1 from east of Southwest 22nd Avenue to I-95 through the night, from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m., starting this week and continuing to May 1, the department said.

Traffic lanes will be closed during the night periodically as the work goes on. The department said police will be directing traffic during those hours and warned that drivers should expect delays and should seek alternate routes if possible.