It’s just painful sometimes, this MacArthur Causeway. Today it tested your sanity.
An early morning crash between a car and an 18-wheeler trailer truck completely closed down the west bound lanes. Miami Beach Police warned commuters that the shut down would take time as investigators measured and collected evidence.
MBPD identified the man driving the car as Jojo Nicolas, a former football player for the University of Miami.
Public Information Officers told the Herald that Nicolas was transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital with severe injuries. Social media accounts for the police department wished him and his family well.
On lookers from the eastbound lanes were also blamed for some of the congestion, but things would have been complicated anyway with Alton Road torn to shreds in the name of upgrades. That major traffic artery is being detoured until the end of the year and has become an added nuisance. Over the weekend , the new administration announced that the Alton Road upgrades would be done by the end of the year, nearly seven months ahead of plans.
But that’s eight months away, and today traffic looked unbearable at times. Pictures from the Traffic Management twitter account looked surreal for a Tuesday.
Heavy congestion on NB #Alton; WB #MacArthur Cswy closed. Seek alternate routes #trafficalertsfl @MiamiBeachNews pic.twitter.com/Djwjq4VvC1
— Traffic Management (@TrafficAlertSFL) February 25, 2014
Special traffic pattern implemented on NB Alton to relieve congestion #miamibeachtraffic @MiamiBeachPD pic.twitter.com/VdKRDNII2I
— Traffic Management (@TrafficAlertSFL) February 25, 2014
The Venetian, usually a pay road, suspended it’s toll to help alleviate traffic.
Elsewhere, on 69 and Collins, traffic was also being impacted by a gas leak. Northbound was herded into one lane.
Traffic down to one lane northbound on Collins Avenue due to gas leak.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 25, 2014
Update: Around 11 a.m., MBPD announced it would open the west bound lane of the causeway. Nearly six hours later.
The accident had been reported around five in the morning.
#Traffic #MacArthurCauseway to reopen westbound lanes in the next 3-4 minutes.
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) February 25, 2014
Jojo Nicolas has passed.