Reminder: Causeway Traffic Impacts

 

Traffic Impacts: Causeway Closures Friday, April 2, 2021

Due to the City’s State of Emergency relating to the High Impact Period, restaurants and businesses along the Española Way corridor between Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Avenue are excluded from the Emergency Order and are permitted to operate until the citywide 12 a.m. curfew along with all other restaurants and businesses outside of the High Impact Zone. As a reminder, the following measures are in effect:  Julia Tuttle/MacArthur Causeways: The Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) will deploy a license plate reader (LPR) detail on eastbound lanes in lieu of a checkpoint starting at 10 p.m. each evening through 6 a.m. the following day. Motorists will not have to come to a complete stop. There won’t typically be any interaction with officers except in the case of vehicles that are the subject of an LPR alert. While this should be faster than residency checks, delays are likely. Venetian Causeway: Eastbound lanes will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. the following day, except in the case of City residents, guests of hotels/short-term rentals in the City, employees of City businesses, and individuals making deliveries from restaurants. Miami Beach residents must show a valid Florida identification card, driver’s license or utility bill indicating a Miami Beach address. Hotel and vacation rental guests must show their lodging confirmation or hotel key card that indicates where they are staying. Employees of Miami Beach businesses can show their employee identification cards. Visitors with restaurant reservations booked after 10 p.m. should show a confirmation of the reservation.

Reminder, effective from 8 p.m. each day through 6 a.m. the following day now through Monday, April 5, a curfew is in effect ONLY in the area bounded by 5 Street on the south, 16 Street on the north, Pennsylvania Avenue on the west, and Ocean Drive on the east (the “High Impact Zone” highlighted in the map below). The curfew shall not apply to the Española Way corridor between Pennsylvania Avenue and Washington Avenue.

Restaurants within the High Impact Zone shall be permitted to continue to operate for delivery services only. All other areas in Miami Beach are open for residents and visitors to patronize after the 8 p.m. curfew in the High Impact Zone, such as: Lincoln Road Española Way South of Fifth Sunset Harbour Collins Park 41 Street North Beach and more.

Frequently Asked Questions What days will the emergency road closures and traffic changes be in effect? The emergency road closures and traffic changes will be in effect from 10 p.m. each day through 6 a.m. the following day starting Thursday, April 1 through Monday, April 5 at 6 a.m. Which causeways into Miami Beach have been affected by the High Impact Period emergency measures? Three of the City’s four causeways have been affected by the emergency measures. They are the MacArthur Causeway, Julia Tuttle Causeway and Venetian Causeway. The 79 Street Causeway will continue normal operations. What identification will be required? Miami Beach residents must show a valid Florida identification card, driver’s license or utility bill indicating a Miami Beach address. Hotel and vacation rental guests must show their lodging confirmation or hotel key card that indicates where they are staying. Employees of Miami Beach businesses can show their employee identification cards. Visitors with restaurant reservations booked after 10 p.m. should show a confirmation of the reservation. Will westbound traffic on the causeways be affected by the emergency measures? Only eastbound traffic will be affected by the emergency measures. Westbound traffic will proceed as usual. Does Miami Beach have any plans to erect checkpoints on other roads that connect nearby communities to Miami Beach, such as Harding Avenue from Surfside? No. There are no plans to set up checkpoints on other roads at this time. What if someone who lives in a neighboring community wants to travel on one of the restricted causeways? Residents from nearby communities will have to use one of the causeways that are open to nonresident traffic unless they are a guest at a Miami Beach hotel or employed by a Miami Beach business. What time will police begin occupying the causeways? Police will begin setting up each night at 9:30 p.m. Setup is expected to be completed by 10 p.m. What are the estimated traffic delays? What will be done to ameliorate those delays? Residents are encouraged to use the Venetian or 79 Street Causeway so that they will not be subjected to traffic delays.  Have food delivery services been consulted? Will they be allowed to deliver food from outside Miami Beach after 10 p.m.? Will it cost more and take longer? Food deliveries may take longer based on where the driver is coming from. Costs will be determined by each delivery service. Can I get back to my home via rideshare services (Lyft, Uber, etc.) after 10 p.m.? Will it be more expensive given that it will take longer? You will still be able to take a rideshare service to your home or business on Miami Beach. The price will be determined by each rideshare company. Can family and friends visit me after 10 p.m. when the restrictions are in place? In order to avoid the resident screening, we suggest that family and friends be directed to the 79 Street Causeway.  Stay connected with Miami Beach PD on Twitter and Facebook. To receive real-time traffic text messages, send a message to MBTraffic at 888777.