Confusion halts the start of Miami’s tunnel project

Being overseen by the Florida Department of Transportation in partnership with Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami, the project will remove port traffic from downtown streets and reduce idle time and emissions and completion is scheduled for summer 2014.

Drilling for the tunnels was due to begin Monday November 7, 2011. However, this been temporarily postponed while officials sort out a legal objection filed by a Key Biscayne councilman who later apologised ‘for violating procedure,’ – but not before the final permit from the state for the drilling was put on hold.

It was unclear when a drilling permit would be issued and the project could resume but Florida State Governor Rick Scott has called the delay disappointing, although he has reiterated that it wouldn’t derail the dredging project that will allow larger container vessels to enter the port.