Construction has begun on the massive and distinctive arches that will support the new “Signature Bridge” coming to life over I-395 in the heart of Downtown Miami.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) continues progress on the expanded I-395/SR 836/I-95 design-build project, a partnership between FDOT and the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and its contractor, the Archer Western-De Moya Group Joint Venture .

The $818 million total project includes the Signature Bridge at Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, an upper traffic deck built over State Road 836 and the Miami River, and one lane for the northbound entrance to I-95.

Completion has been pushed back to the summer of 2026, which has been attributed to pandemic and supply chain issues, additional design time and construction delays for the signature bridge, anticipated weather delays, and work restrictions due to special events and holidays.

Routes covered on December 2 and December 5 through December 9 include: Northwest 14th Street from Northwest Seventh to Northwest First Avenue will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. to allow a contractor to work on segmental bridge construction. permission can be obtained. Roadway. Drivers can alternately use Northwest 17th Street.

I-95 ongoing construction activities include:

■The sidewalk has been replaced from Northwest 17th to 29th Streets.

■ Sidewalk inspections underway from Northwest 17th to 29th Streets.

■ Concrete pavement replacement on I-95 from Northwest 8th to 17th Streets at night.

■Intelligent transportation system equipments are being installed.

■ Workers are installing new railings.

■ Traffic guardrails are being installed on many bridges.

I-95 lane closures, December 2 and Sunday, December 4 and December 4 through December 9 include:

■ 4 lanes on southbound I-95 from 29th to 8th northwest will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Friday from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m.

■Northbound I-95 will be closed to four lanes at night from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. from Northwest 8th to 29th Streets, closed from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. Friday

Ongoing I-395 construction includes:

■ Installation of a temporary bridge over North Miami Avenue.

■ Construction of a temporary westbound and eastbound I-395 bypass from North Miami Avenue to I-95.

■ Installation of arch segments for Signature Bridge.

■ Nighttime auger cast pile installation for support tower foundation from east of Biscayne Boulevard to Northeast First Avenue between I-395 and NE 13th Street.

■ Construction of the bridge segment between North Miami Avenue and Northwest First Place.

■Work underway on four of the six signature bridge arches, including placement of precast arch segments on arch two just west of Northeast Second Avenue.

■ Preparation for the next concrete pour on the Signature Bridge Center Pier Foundation between Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast Second Avenue just north of I-395.

■ Nighttime road operation on I-395 from MacArthur Causeway to I-95.

I-395 mainline lane closures, December 2 and December 4, and December 4 through December 9, include:

■ One lane on mainline eastbound I-395 will be closed as needed from I-95 to Biscayne Boulevard between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

■ Mainline westbound I-395 will be closed to two lanes from Biscayne Boulevard to I-95 between 11:45 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

The current long-term closure of Northwest First Place from Northwest 13th to 14th Streets will continue to allow the contractor to work on bridges over the roadways. It also includes the closure of Northwest 14th Terrace from Northwest Third to Northwest Second Avenue; Drivers can alternatively use Northwest 15th Street; and the closure of Northwest First Court from 13th to 14th Streets and Northwest 13th Street from Northwest First Avenue to Northwest First Court.

Construction of the new SR 836 second level continues from Northwest 17th Avenue to I-95.

The second level roadway will provide drivers with a direct connection to the MacArthur Causeway that is free of local entry and exit traffic. The existing SR 836 roadway (lower level) and bridge will serve as a collector distributor system allowing drivers to enter and exit from existing local roads and I-95.

This collector distributor system will reduce existing weaving movements on SR 836, increasing safety and improving traffic.

Ongoing SR 836 construction includes:

■First concrete deck poured for new SR 836 double-deck roadway.

■ Installation of SR 836 bridge cap segments and beams for double-deck roadway using overhead lifter.

■ Widening of the eastbound bridge over SR 836 at Northwest 14th Street and Northwest 10th Avenue.

■ Construction of a trestle bridge between the shoreline and fendering system on the south bank of the Miami River.

■ Continued substructure activity on or near SR 836 from Northwest Seventh to 12th Avenue.

■ Construction of foundation in Richard E. Gerstein Justice Building parking area.

■ Casting of bridge cap is in progress.

■ Construction of double-deck substructure and piers at the core of the interchange.

FDOT advises that SR 836 will be completely closed at night.

The I-395/SR 836/I-95 project aims to increase capacity, increase traffic flow and safety, and improve access to I-395, SR 836 and I-95.