Sinkholes on Turnpike cause massive traffic delays

Emergency vehicles respond to Turnpike at Northwest 199 Street

MIAMI-DADE, Fla. ā€“ The Florida Highway Patrol closed the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike in Miami-Dade County on Saturday, after two sinkholes appeared on the road. Ā 

Engineers believe the ruptures in the asphalt Ā near NorthwestĀ 199thĀ Street were likely due to a broken water main. The Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department was working on the repairs Saturday afternoon.Ā 

Troopers said they started getting calls from drivers reported a dip in the road. And after FHP shutdown the Turnpike, drivers were trapped in a parking lot. But no one was injured.Ā 

Authorities moved to mobilize a line of cars to travel southbound on the northbound emergency lanes.Ā 

The Florida Department of Transportation warned drivers of police activity on the Turnpike in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties.Ā 

In Miami-Dade, the FDOT reported the southbound ramp from Exit 4X County Line Road was closed and there were emergency vehicles before Exit 2X Northwest 199th Street, where all lanes were blocked.Ā 

In Broward, the FDOT reported all southbound lanes were blocked at Exit 47 Northwest 27th Avenue and the northbound off ramp to Exit 47 Golden Glades was also closed.Ā 

Never have I ever.... driven north on the southbound lane of the Turnpike!#normalMiamitraffic #sinkhole

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The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.