MIAMI – Traffic was affected for most of the day in downtown Miami on Friday after a bridge joint became loose, Florida Highway Patrol officials said.
Sky 10 was above the eastbound lanes of Interstate 395 as workers inspected the the bridge.
Troopers said the incident was reported about 7:40 a.m. after four drivers got flat tires. Other vehicles had undercarriage damage and at least one car had rim damage because of the bridge joint.
"It started at 7:40 during rush hour traffic, so we were faced with a situation where a lot of people were tied up in traffic," FHP spokesman Joe Sanchez said. "So, we basically diverted traffic onto I-95 northbound and southbound and kept the traffic flowing as much as we could."
The road was closed at the I-95 exit and drivers were advised to seek alternate routes.
Sanchez said the on-ramps to the beach were still open, but drivers were urged to take U.S. 112 and I-95 northbound or southbound.
Drivers were asked to stay clear of the Dolphin Expressway eastbound until repairs were completed.
"We escorted the crew in quickly to start fixing the roadway, and we realize the impact this has to Miami Beach and those who are here to celebrate the South Beach Wine & Food Festival," Sanchez said.
It's unclear what caused the bridge joint to loosen, but troopers suspect that it was large trucks headed to Port Miami. They said incidents like this rarely happen on South Florida's highways.