The Longest Tunnel In Florida Has A Truly Fascinating Backstory
By Marisa Roman|Published January 03, 2021
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Marisa Roman
Author
A New Jersey native with over 15 years of writing experience, Marisa has studied at both New York University and Florida International University. She has lived all over the country, including a decade stint in South Florida. Marisa is well-versed in exploration as she travels a good majority of the year in her self-converted Sprinter van. Her articles have been featured in various notable publications over the years, she has a published collection of short stories, and three completed screenplays under her belt.
Florida has never really been a state that has a history of tunnels dating back centuries that will blow your mind. Nope. Not us. We actually only had one operating public tunnel for a very long time until 2014 when the Port of Miami Tunnel in Florida was finally finished. But there is something fascinating about the Port of Miami Tunnel that makes it most extraordinary. This public tunnel has a depth of 120-feet underwater and the machine used to drill below the sea was incredible in and of itself.
The Port of Miami Tunnel began construction in May 2010 and was officially opened to traffic on August 3, 2014.
What’s so fascinating about this tunnel, beyond the fact that it is absolutely stunning, is that it clocks in a 4,200-feet and has a depth of 120-feet under the sea.
One of the primary benefits of the tunnel was to redirect traffic from container trucks and cruise patrons, which could be upwards of 15,000 people daily.
The boring machine that was used throughout the project was actually built in Germany and reassembled here in the states, weighing over 2,500 tons with a length over 540-feet.
Have you ever driven through the Port of Miami Tunnel in Florida before? Share with us your experience in the comments section! Or if you want to learn more about this extraordinary tunnel, check out the Facebook Page.
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