In what’s sure to be one of many major roadway overhauls taking place in major American cities as aging and obsolete infrastructure produce headaches and draw public attention, the thriving Port of Miami is undergoing a major tunneling project to connect the economic hub directly with Southern Florida’s major highway systems.

The project, with estimations from $1 billion to $2 billion, was approved in 2007, but because of the economic downturn of 2008 and the cancelation of major financial sponsors, work for the project was suspended.

After intense lobbying by Mayor Carlos Alvarez, financial closing was reached in late 2009, with construction breaking ground in May of the following year.