Florida Construction News staff writer
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) updated the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel Improvements and Pedestrian Plaza project this week. Construction of the plaza is anticipated to be completed in late 2022 with an overall project completion in late 2023.
This $28.4 million project is a collaborative effort partially sponsored by the City of Fort Lauderdale to construct the signature tunnel top extension portion and improve the existing plaza; a total of $11 million was allocated for the extension.
Lead Engineering Contractors started the project on Sept. 7, 2021 and construction is expected to continue through late 2023.
Work will rehabilitate the structural, mechanical, electrical, architectural, and safety components of the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel; mill and resurface a 3.14 mile stretch SR 5/ US-1 from Rio Vista Boulevard to the south of the Tunnel; install Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) along SR 5/ US-1; extend the tunnel top to accommodate a pedestrian plaza which will include new fountains, seating brick pavers, artificial turf, and landscape installation, and reconstruct the intersection of Las Olas Boulevard at SE 6th Avenue.
Additional project-specific information is available on FDOT’s website.