$1 Billion Port of Miami Tunnel Opens for Business

Alfonso Chadry reports on the dedication and subsequent opening of the new (yet-to-be-officially-named) tunnel under the Port of Miami. "The tunnel provides the first direct access to the port from area expressways. Currently, cargo trucks meander through downtown streets to get to the port," writes Chadry.

The $1 billion project has been in the works for more than 30 years: "A report prepared for the Downtown Development Authority in April 1983 points to the tunnel as the solution to improve access to the port from area expressways," and although "[federal] transportation authorities liked the idea…it wasn’t until 2000 that they actually issued a statement indicating that the tunnel was feasible." A final public-private partnership created to build the tunnel included the Luxenbourg-based financial firm Meridiam Infrastructure Finance and the French construction firm Bouygues Travaux Publics.

The Miami Herald's coverage of the new tunnel includes a set of infographics and maps, including cross sections of both the tunnel and the path of the tunnel.