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Dolphin Expressway Drivers Face Overnight Closures

Eastbound lanes close at Northwest 17th Avenue from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on November 7-8, 2026, with a detour posted.

Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Home Renovation

Pale concrete elevated highway viaduct in early morning haze, its new upper deck under construction beside the existing span, with orange cones at the roadway edge and palm trees in the distance.
The Florida Department of Transportation will close eastbound Dolphin Expressway lanes at Northwest 17th Avenue from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. on November 7-8, 2026, with a detour posted. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Drivers using the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) in Miami face overnight lane closures on November 7-8, 2026, as crews keep building the double-decked section. Eastbound lanes close at Northwest 17th Avenue from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., and all lanes between Northwest 12th and 17th avenues close by 1 a.m.

Why it matters

The double-decking of the Dolphin Expressway is a long, costly project that will keep shaping the commute through Miami's west side until it is finished. Overnight closures are the price of getting it done, and residents heading out early or coming home late should plan around them.

The overnight closure window runs from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m., with all lanes between Northwest 12th and 17th avenues shut by 1 a.m. The $866 million double-decking project is not expected to be completed until late 2029, and the source did not say how many more closure nights remain.

The players

Florida Department of Transportation

The state agency overseeing the overnight closures and the double-decking of State Road 836.

The details

The Florida Department of Transportation has scheduled overnight closures on State Road 836 for November 7-8, 2026. All eastbound lanes close at Northwest 17th Avenue starting at 11 p.m., two westbound lanes close at 11 p.m., and all lanes between Northwest 12th and 17th avenues close by 1 a.m., reopening at 8 a.m. Crews are adding a new road above the existing Dolphin Expressway that connects to Interstate 395 and the MacArthur Causeway.

Timeline

  1. November 7, 2026, 11 p.m.: eastbound lanes close at NW 17th Avenue and westbound lanes begin closing

  2. November 8, 2026, 1 a.m.: all lanes between NW 12th and 17th avenues are closed

  3. November 8, 2026, 8 a.m.: closed lanes reopen

  4. Late 2029: expected completion of the $866 million project

Beyond the 305

The Dolphin Expressway double-decking is an $866 million state project that is still years from completion. These overnight closures show the work moving in stages, with the eastbound ramp to northbound I-95 already widened as part of the same effort.

If you drive east on State Road 836, expect to exit at Northwest 17th Avenue overnight on November 7-8, then turn right on South Miami Avenue and right again to reach the I-95 ramps. Plan extra time for late-night and early-morning trips through the closure window, which lifts at 8 a.m.

The takeaway

Keep the 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. closure window in mind if you travel the Dolphin Expressway late or early this week. Check your route before leaving so you can use the Northwest 17th Avenue detour without getting caught in the lane shutdowns.

What happens next

Overnight closures will continue as double-decking progresses toward completion in late 2029.

Further reading

For more on the road work reshaping Miami's commutes, see Home Renovation coverage in Miami.

Live Poll

Do you support long-term highway construction even when it causes overnight closures?