The notorious “Iron Triangle”—the heavily congested junction where NW 36th Street (SR 948), LeJeune Road (SR 953), and Okeechobee Road (US 27 / SR 25) collide near Miami International Airport—is on the verge of a massive physical transformation.
At the upcoming Miami Springs City Council meeting, local leaders are set to vote on a resolution expressing formal support for the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Alternative 5-B design. While Alternative 5-B is being championed as the “best-case scenario” compared to other more disruptive designs, it comes with a mix of significant highway improvements and highly concerning local drawbacks for Miami Springs residents and businesses.
What is Alternative 5-B?
FDOT’s Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study has been evaluating several ways to re-engineer this bottleneck, which connects major arterial routes and serves as a primary gateway to Miami International Airport and State Road 112 (Airport Expressway).
Alternative 5-B introduces grade separation—meaning elevated flyovers and bridges will carry through-traffic over the ground-level intersection, streamlining connections between US-27 and the airport.
An overview of the proposed FDOT Alternative 5-B design for the Iron Triangle. Source: FDOT / MiamiSprings.com
According to the City’s resolution, the City Council is backing Alternative 5-B because it preserves the visibility and pedestrian infrastructure along the north side of NW 36th Street. This is critical for the City’s ongoing, community-driven “Activate Southeast Miami Springs Project,” which aims to transform the NW 36th Street zoning district into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, and welcoming commercial corridor.
Zoomed-in look at the proposed elevated flyover ramps. Source: FDOT / MiamiSprings.com
The Big Drawbacks for Miami Springs Residents
While this massive state project will undoubtedly streamline highway traffic flowing from SR 112 and the airport, local residents and business owners need to be aware of two major drawbacks that could impact daily life in the Springs:
1. Losing Left-Turn Access to Local Businesses
If you are driving eastbound on NW 36th Street, say goodbye to making easy left turns into some of your favorite local spots.
Under the proposed Alternative 5-B design, FDOT is installing a continuous concrete central median along NW 36th Street directly south of the business strip. This physical barrier will permanently eliminate the ability for eastbound drivers to make left turns directly into properties like the EB Hotel, Pollo Tropical, Wells Fargo, and Office Depot.
Our annotated map highlights where direct left-turn access to local favorites like Pollo Tropical and EB Hotel will be permanently cut off by a central median barrier. Source: FDOT / MiamiSprings.com
As shown in our annotated map, drivers heading eastbound will be blocked by a solid barrier. To access these businesses, residents will be forced to navigate all the way to the main intersection at NW 42nd Avenue (LeJeune Road) or seek out a designated U-turn farther east, adding extra travel time and cluttering the main intersection.
2. The “Springs Shortcut”: Increased Cut-Through Traffic to Hialeah
While the elevated flyovers are designed to keep regional highway traffic moving, a smoother flow at the core of the Iron Triangle is expected to act as a double-edged sword.
With more traffic moving through the area at higher speeds, and with certain local turns restricted, local transportation advocates warn of an increase in cut-through traffic. Drivers looking to bypass congestion or find a direct path to Hialeah will likely use Miami Springs’ residential streets as a bypass. This could mean more non-resident vehicles speeding down local roads, raising safety concerns for our neighborhoods, schools, and parks.
Drivers on westbound State Road 112 can bypass the multi-light cycle wait at Okeechobee Road and LeJeune Road by take the NW 36th Street Exit. They then make a right turn on East Drive to make their way home.
Just look at how many people get off the 112 and make a right on LeJeune Road. All we’re doing is shifting all the traffic further west to East Drive.
What’s Next?
The City Council’s resolution, if adopted, would formally support Alternative 5-B as the preferred design and directs the City Clerk to transmit this position to FDOT District 6.
However, because this is an FDOT study, community feedback is vital. Residents and business owners are encouraged to look closely at the plans and attend upcoming public hearings to voice their concerns about local access and cut-through traffic.
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What do you think of the proposed “Iron Triangle” redesign? Will the highway improvements be worth the loss of local access on NW 36th Street? Do you think this will increase the amount of Hialeah cut through traffic at East Drive? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
