Interstate 395 Florida

Overview

MacArthur Causeway (SR A1A) extends east from Interstate 395 to span the Intracoastal Waterway (Biscayne Bay) between Museum Park and Watson Island. 07/26/17

The shortest route within the Florida Interstate system at 1.29 miles, Interstate 395 provides an essential link between Miami at Overton and South Beach in Miami Beach. Extending the Dolphin Expressway (SR 836) east from the Midtown Interchange with Interstate 95 (North-South Expressway), I-395 constitutes an elevated route to SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) across Biscayne Bay. The freeway doubles as SR 836, though the concurrency is not posted.

I-395 also comprises part of a truck route to the Port of Miami with the connection to SR 887 (PortMiami Tunnel) via SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway). Providing direct access to the port from MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island, the $668.5 million twin-tubed tunnel opened to motorists on August 3, 2014.¹ SR A1A continues east along MacArthur Causeway to 5th Street in Miami Beach.

I-395/SR 836/I-95 Project

Route Information

East End – Miami, FL
West End – Miami, FL
Mileage – 1.29
Cities – Miami
Junctions –

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-395 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Location	Vehicles per day
I-95 to US 1	144000
MacArthur Cswy	85500

Source: 2019 AADT – Florida Traffic Online (FDOT)

Interstate 395 under construction in 1970. U.S. 41 formerly extended east from Downtown Miami onto MacArthur Causeway from U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) to Miami Beach.

The east end of I-395 connects with SR 887 and the PortMiami Tunnel. SR 887 branches southeast from MacArthur Causeway at the Intracoastal Waterway bridge to the Port of Miami while SR A1A turns southward onto Watson Island over Biscayne Bay. 04/04/15

The I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project, previously scheduled to start in December 2017, rebuilds the entire viaduct and ramp system between the Midtown Interchange and the Intracoastal Waterway bridge. Construction shifts the westbound shift slightly north onto a new footprint from a new signature span above U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). The 1,025 foot bridge over Biscayne Boulevard will feature six sweeping arches, and a significantly higher vertical clearance then its predecessor.

Additionally, the 1.4 mile long project expands I-395 to six overall lanes. Ramp changes include moving the eastbound off-ramps at NE 2nd Avenue to N Miami Avenue and the westbound entrance ramps at NE 1st Avenue west to N Miami Avenue. A Record of Decision on the I-395/SR 836/I-95 Project was published by July 2010.⁶

Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) construction along SR 836 improves two miles of the Dolphin Expressway west from the Midtown Interchange to NW 17th Avenue. Improvements add a second deck linking SR 836 with MacArthur Causeway (SR A1A) while bypassing ramps along Interstate 395. The existing roadways along SR 836 will be repurposed as collector distributor roadways for the exchange with I-95/395. The overall project reconstructing I-95, I-395 and SR 836 costs ~~$818~~ $840 million. The anticipated completion is ~~Fall 2024~~ Summer 2026.⁷

History

The Florida State Road Department proposed three urban Interstates in a letter dated August 8, 1958 to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO). They were I-195 along the Bayshore Connector in Downtown Miami, I-395 along the freeway spur linking Miami with Miami Beach, and I-110 along the spur south into Pensacola. AASHO approved these on November 12, 1958.

The State Road Department made changes to the urban Interstate numerology the following year. Correspondence with AASHO on June 11, 1959 outlined dropping the Bayshore Connector as I-195 and renumbering 36th Street (Julia Tuttle) Causeway east to Miami Beach from I-395 to I-195. AASHO approved the change on July 1, 1959.

The Interstate 395 section of the Dolphin Expressway was built in two phases between 1967² and 1971. Phase one included the portion between the Midtown Interchange (I-95) and Miami Avenue, while phase two completed the connection to MacArthur Causeway (SR A1A).³ The entire freeway spur opened to traffic on the afternoon of March 26, 1971.⁴

A 1996 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) improvement plan outlined expanding Interstate 395 with additional lanes. Met with local opposition, the proposal never came to fruition. Other improvements considered for the freeway spur arose in the early 2000s, ranging from a below grade section of freeway to new elevated spans.⁵

Photo Guides

Interstate 395 Florida

East End / MacArthur Causeway – Miami, Florida

East at

I-395 leads east from the Midtown Interchange with separate roadways. Traffic transitioning directly from SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) utilizes the inner roadway to U.S. 1 (Exit 2A) while the ramps from I-95 form the outer roadway to Biscayne Boulevard at Exit 2B. 09/30/17

These overheads along I-395 east between the Midtown Interchange and U.S. 1 (Bisscayne Boulevard) were replaced to show the connection with the PortMiami Tunnel (SR 887). 07/05/11

Left Exit 2A departs for U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) from Interstate 395 east. The elevated roadways continue onto MacArthur Causeway across Biscayne Bay. 09/30/17

Interstate 395 and unsigned SR 836 conclude as the separate roadways merge above NE 2nd Avenue and U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). 09/03/17

SR A1A takes over along MacArthur Causeway east to the Port of Miami, via SR 887, and Miami Beach. 09/30/17

South at

The entrance ramp from the PortMiami Tunnel (SR 887) merges onto the left side of SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) across the Intracoastal Waterway bridge. Photo by Peter Johnson (04/10/21).

SR A1A ends at Exit 2 with U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard), while I-395 begins. Photo by Peter Johnson (04/10/21).

The exchange joining SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) south / I-395 west with U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) during construction for the PortMiami Tunnel (SR 887). A Metrorail line passes overhead at the gore point for Exit 2 to Biscayne Boulevard and NE 13th Street. 03/04/14

MacArthur Causeway shifts southward over NE 12th Street at U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). A confirming shield marks the transition of SR A1A south into I-395 west. Photo by Peter Johnson (04/10/21).

/ Biscayne Boulevard North at

An overhead directs precedes the left turn from U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) north to NE 12th Street for Interstate 395 west to I-95 and SR 836. 07/26/17

An entrance ramp joins U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) north with SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) east from the end of I-395 to Watson Island and Miami Beach. 07/26/17

/ Biscayne Boulevard South at

Trailblazers for I-95 and I-395 posted along U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) south precede the MacArthur Causeway viaduct linking SR A1A with I-395 west. An entrance ramp joins the freeway from NE 12th Street, a block west of U.S. 1. 07/26/17

The I-395/SR 836 reconstruction project shifts the westbound freeway northward and provides separate ramps for the continuation of I-395 west to the Dolphin Expressway and for the distributor roadway to I-95. 07/26/17

Throwback – South at

Older guide signs along U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) for Interstate 395 omitted the designation in favor of State Road 836. This overhead at NE 12th Street was replaced after June 2011 to include I-395. 03/26/06

Replaced overheads along NE 12th Street preceding the separate entrance ramps for I-395 west. Both ascend onto the freeway viaduct ahead of the Midtown Interchange. 03/26/06

West End – Miami, Florida

West at

Interstate 395 angles northwest from NE 1st Avenue and the Overton community to I-95 at Exit 1. Sign changes made in 2014 reflect the conversion of SR 836 west into a toll road; the Dolphin Expressway was previously tolled in the eastbound direction only. 04/04/15

Reconstruction of the Midtown Interchange combines both movements for I-95 into a single departure from a distributor roadway above NE 1st Avenue. Presently back to back off-ramps depart for I-95 to Fort Lauderdale and Downtown Miami respectively. Photo by Peter Johnson (04/10/21).

Left Exit 1A leaves the west end of I-395 for I-95 south toward Coral Gables as the freeway mainline transitions into the tolled Dolphin Expressway (SR 836). SR 836 passes to the south of Miami International Airport (MIA) en route to Sweetwater and the Homestead Extension of Florida’s Turnpike (HEFT). 04/04/15

Downtown Miami from the Midtown Interchange joining I-95, I-395 and SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway). 09/30/17

East at

SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) rises over NW 17 Avenue and the Miami River en route to the Midtown Interchange with I-95 and I-395. 03/21/20

The Dolphin Expressway crosses U.S. 441 (NW 7th Avenue) leading into the four level interchange with I-95 and I-395. 03/21/20

A single lane ramp leaves for Interstate 95 south toward Downtown Miami and NW 8th Street at the Midtown Interchange. 03/21/20

Traffic to I-95 northbound departs along a left exit ramp as SR 836 transitions onto I-395 toward Miami Beach. SR 836 represents the unmarked state road component of I-395 east to Exit 2A / U.S. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard). 07/05/11

South at

Interstate 95 south widens to seven lanes on the approach to the Midtown Interchange with SR 836 west to Miami International Airport (MIA) and I-395 east to Miami Beach. 09/30/17

Succeeding two lane ramps depart for SR 836 west at Exit 3A and I-395 east at Left Exit 2D. SR 836 follows the Dolphin Expressway from I-95 to SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and the Homestead Extension of the Florida’s Turnpike (HEFT). 09/30/17

I-95 advances south with three through lanes as Left Exit 2D leaves for I-395 east. I-395 continues along the final leg of the Dolphin Expressway to SR A1A (MacArthur Causeway) and the Port of Miami via SR 887 (PortMiami Tunnel). The succeeding southbound exit from I-95 leads to NW 8th Street while the freeway continues 3.2 miles to Downtown and U.S. 1 at Brickell. 09/30/17

North at

Succeeding off-ramps depart for I-395 east (Exit 2D) to Miami Beach and SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) west to MIA Airport (Exit 3A). The Dolphin Expressway runs adjacent to NW 12th Street along its 13.7-mile course to NW 137th Avenue. 03/21/20

Traffic from both directions of I-95 to I-395 east combines along a separate roadway independent of the roadway linking SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) east with MacArthur Causeway. I-395 ends along MacArthur Causeway ahead of the PortMiami Tunnel (SR 887), which opened on August 3, 2014. 03/21/20

West End Throwback

I-395 west concludes ahead at the Midtown Interchange with I-95 and SR 836 west. SR 836 continues along the Dolphin Expressway to SR 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and the Homestead Extension of the Florida’s Turnpike. 03/04/14

Entering the systems interchange (Exits 1B/A) with I-95 on I-395 west. Two lanes of traffic departed for I-95 north to Fort Lauderdale, followed by a left exit for I-95 south in 0.25 miles. 04/01/14

With the conversion of the Dolphin Expressway to all electric tolling (AET) in 2014, sign changes were made reflecting the ramp for I-95 south as the last exit before toll. This ramp will be replaced with a new flyover from the right as part of the I-395 / SR 836 reconstruction project. 03/04/14

Former overheads along SR 836 east, 1.1 miles from the Midtown Interchange with I-95/395. 07/05/11

Sources:

PortMiami Tunnel. Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), project web site.
Learned, Jason. “Interstate Guide – Florida I-195, I-395, I-595.” Personal email, November 25, 2003.
“Jan. 20 Marks End Of The Expressway Era, Transportation Age Must Begin.” The Miami News (FL), January 7, 1969.
“First car on finished X-way – too early.” The Miami News (FL), March 26, 1971.
“Plan to raze I-395, build anew gains momentum: High-powered committee seems on verge of first step.” Miami Herald (FL), July 9, 2003.
“Record of Decision I-395 Reconstruction.” Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), July 16, 2010 (Document).
I-395 Reconstruction Project Fact Sheet. FDOT.

Page updated June 15, 2022.