Tamiami Trail: The Road That Blocked the ‘River of Grass’

Ever wonder what happens when you build a road across a river that you didn’t even know existed? That’s the story of Tamiami Trail — a highway that unknowingly dammed the Everglades for nearly 100 years, and the remarkable restoration project that is finally letting water flow south again. 

What is the Tamiami Trail Restoration Project? 

The Tamiami Trail Restoration Project is a major milestone in Everglades restoration. For decades, the road acted like an asphalt dam, cutting off water from naturally flowing south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. 

To fix the problem, the state of Florida: 

• Removed 6 miles of old roadbed 

• Built 3.5 miles of elevated bridges 

• Raised sections of the roadway 

• Updated water management operations to direct flow where it historically belonged 

These efforts now allow increased freshwater flow through Shark River Slough, revitalizing marshes, wetlands, and wildlife habitats across the Everglades. 

What is the history of the Tamiami Trail? 

When the Tamiami Trail was completed in 1928, it was celebrated as an engineering triumph that connected Florida’s east and west coasts. But without realizing it, the road had become a barrier, disrupting one of the planet’s most unique ecosystems.  

In 1989, a turning point came when Everglades National Park acquired critical land south of the Trail. This opened the door for restoration efforts, eventually leading to the ambitious bridge-building project we see today.

What are the benefits of the Tamiami Trail Bridges? 

Restoring water flow across the Tamiami Trail has delivered wide-ranging benefits, including: 

• Healthier Ecosystems and Wildlife: Longer hydroperiods and higher water levels support thriving marshes and wildlife like wading birds, alligators, and the 70+ protected species that live in the Everglades. 

• Improved Water Quality: Freshwater flowing south helps balance salinity levels in Florida Bay, reducing the risk of seagrass die-offs. 

• Resilience: Restored wetlands help buffer coastal communities against sea-level rise, flooding, and storm surge. 

• Economic Value: A healthy Everglades isn’t just good for nature — it’s good for people, too. The Everglades ecosystem drives key Florida industries like tourism, real estate, and recreation, provides drinking water for millions, and as our first-of-its-kind 2025 study reveals, contributes $31 billion every year to the Florida’s GDP.  

When will the Tamiami Trail Bridges project be done? 

The Tamiami Trail bridges have been constructed in phases. The first mile opened in 2013, followed by 2.3 additional miles in 2019. The most recent phase raised road sections and added more elevated spans, totaling 3.5 miles of bridges today. While construction of the bridges is now complete, elevating the remaining roadway is expected to be done in December 2026. After that, the real work continues — managing water flow to maximize restoration benefits.  

The September 2025 groundbreaking of the Blue Shanty Flow-Way project will also remove 10 miles of berm along the Tamiami Trail, supporting increased water flow from Lake Okeechobee to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. 

Each mile of bridge built and each Everglades restoration project that we push across the finish line takes us a step closer to restoring the natural sheet flow of water through the Everglades. 

Want to learn more? 

You’re in the right place. For more than 30 years, The Everglades Foundation has been the premier organization fighting to restore and protect the precious Everglades ecosystem through science, advocacy, and education. 

Join the movement to restore and protect the global treasure that is America’s Everglades. Sign up to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). Give a gift of any amount you can to support our mission at EvergladesFoundation.org/Donate.