Traffic delay between Port Canaveral and Orlando.

[WDWisTheBest]

From WESH, Channel two in Orlando. http://www.wesh.com/traffic/26574803/detail.html

The Beachline Expressway has been shut down in Brevard County. The crash happened in Merritt Island at SR 528 and SR 3. SR 528 is closed in both directions. SR 3 (Courtenay Parkway) is closed as well. A WESH 2 News crew on the scene said a tanker collided with a pickup truck. The tanker exploded after gasoline spilled onto the roadway. A Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman said traffic would be an issue for several hours.

The latest update says that Route 528 could be shut down at the bridge over Route 3 for days, or weeks, depending on the damage to the bridge.

This could affect every cruise leaving Port Canaveral.

 

[cquick]

yes, what a mess! I wonder if the buses from WDW will have to detour around......

 

[snelsonbrown]

From WESH, Channel two in Orlando. http://www.wesh.com/traffic/26574803/detail.html

The Beachline Expressway has been shut down in Brevard County. The crash happened in Merritt Island at SR 528 and SR 3. SR 528 is closed in both directions. SR 3 (Courtenay Parkway) is closed as well. A WESH 2 News crew on the scene said a tanker collided with a pickup truck. The tanker exploded after gasoline spilled onto the roadway. A Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman said traffic would be an issue for several hours.

The latest update says that Route 528 could be shut down at the bridge over route 3 for days, or weeks, depending on the damage to the bridge.

This affects every cruise leaving Port Canaveral.

I posted this a few minutes ago and dont know what happened to it, but am so glad you took the time to post this - I wanted to add this link so in case anyone has concern or feel lost - look at Brevard County first - it is being suggested you will have to take US1 South to Hwy 520 which will take you through Cocoa, Merritt Island and up to Cocoa Beach - if you get lost or have concern, just call me on my cell at 321-508-2246 or the shop 321-799-4438 for we are here to help ok.

Good luck and please stay safe - Norm and I missed this accident by less than 15 minutes - someone was with us that is for sure and thanks again for posting this

http://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic/crs_h407.htm

 

[WDWisTheBest]

yes, what a mess! I wonder if the buses from WDW will have to detour around......

At this point, EVERY vehicle will have to detour. Florida FDOT representatives will have to do an assessment of the damage to the bridge. The 2000 gallons of gasoline caught fire very close to the bridge and the structure could be adversely affected.

At this point, since the Beachline is so vital to moving thousands of vehicles a day, it will be "all hands on deck" to assess the damage. For the next few days, a plan to bypass the bridge will have to be made.

 

[Topscot]

Can you go along 520 then up to the port?

Oops, just saw someone else recommend this. Thanks Shirley!

 

[snelsonbrown]

yes, what a mess! I wonder if the buses from WDW will have to detour around......

Noone is being allowed to be on the Beachline - A1A was wall to wall traffic and some very impatient folks which is sad, but other than that - more very polite and considered drivers which is what was needed - traffic is still wall to wall at this hour.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Can you go along 520 then up to the port?

Oops, just saw someone else recommend this. Thanks Shirley!

Yes, but realize that anyone should add about an hour to the commute to the port at this time. It will be fluid as to how the traffic will be rerouted in the near future.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Noone is being allowed to be on the Beachline - A1A was wall to wall traffic and some very impatient folks which is sad, but other than that - more very polite and considered drivers which is what was needed - traffic is still wall to wall at this hour.

Thanks for your input, Shirley. This WILL be a huge mess for thousands of drivers.

 

[Spokavegas]

So glad we got here when we did this afternoon!! Shirley- I'm Austins mom.....can't wait to see the buckets!

Any idea of the accident had anything to do with the Dream pulling out late? We sat and waited and waited......and by 5:30....she was still sitting there with all those people freeeeeezing up on deck ready to wave goodbye!

 

[snelsonbrown]

So glad we got here when we did this afternoon!! Shirley- I'm Austins mom.....can't wait to see the buckets!

Any idea of the accident had anything to do with the Dream pulling out late? We sat and waited and waited......and by 5:30....she was still sitting there with all those people freeeeeezing up on deck ready to wave goodbye!

The accident happened going west at 3:45PM - Norm and I got on HWY 528 heading East at 3:35PM - we even noticed the tanker further up on closer to Cape Canaveral - what an eerie feeling knowing that tanker would not make it off the highway - I do know traffic was horrendous on US1 trying to get somewhere - Traffic could have very well played a big part of any of the ships pulling out such as the Monarch.

It will be all over our newpaper tomorrow morning - go to Florida Today and you can read all about it.

Believe me they will do everything possible to make it as easy as possible for everyone - all stay safe

 

[snelsonbrown]

Thanks for your input, Shirley. This WILL be a huge mess for thousands of drivers.

This is not going to be fun but I feel a deep sorrow for the 2 people that lost their lives - so far that is all they are saying died. As I said Norm and I got on going East about 10 min. before it happened - glad we didn't see it or close to it.
Blessings and prayers go to the family and friends of these 2 people.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Any idea of the accident had anything to do with the Dream pulling out late? We sat and waited and waited......and by 5:30....she was still sitting there with all those people freeeeeezing up on deck ready to wave goodbye!

The accident was first reported on the 511 Florida incident system at 4:02pm. The Beachline (Route 528) was wet at the time.

It could have had an effect on the Dream leaving dockside.

 

[WDWisTheBest]

Now, what the highway patrol is doing is using all four on-off ramps to the Beachline for redirecting traffic around the bridge at Route 3. The bridge may or may not be structurally sound. Assessment may be delayed until tomorrow.

 

[Grandma4ever]

Prayers to all who have been touched by this tragic accident. Just another reminder that we should all live today as it may be our last and remember to treat each other with love and kindness.

 

[jilljill]

Prayers to all who have been touched by this tragic accident. Just another reminder that we should all live today as it may be our last and remember to treat each other with love and kindness.

Very well said.
Also very sad for those involved in the accident.

 

[inkkognito]

We were very sad to hear this too. We were just in a Disney bus coming home from the cruise this morning on 528, and then there's such a terrible tragedy later. This might make us reassess heading out late for the Jan. 26th cruise. Sounds like early is the way to go if they are doing detours.

 

[gomagic]

This is not going to be fun but I feel a deep sorrow for the 2 people that lost their lives - so far that is all they are saying died. As I said Norm and I got on going East about 10 min. before it happened - glad we didn't see it or close to it.
Blessings and prayers go to the family and friends of these 2 people.

Yes, be very glad you didn't see it. The only time we drove to Florida, on our way home there was a horrendous accident on southbound I75 in GA. For the longest time we couldn't figure out why there was no traffic in the opposite lanes and soon enough we found out. There were several burned out shells of vehicles along with other damaged ones. To this day what still upsets my mom is that the emergency responders did not have some of vehicles blocked from view - there were fatalities and they were still in the vehicles - the ones that had burned. My mom is a paramedic so she was able to notice the situation easily. I was driving at the time and as we passed the scene kept telling me not to look over there.

 

[DVCconvert]

I couldn't have missed this by more than 1/2 hour.
In fact I could smell a sort of nasty petro-chemical burning smell from down on N. Atlantic near the cocoa beach peir.

why there wasn't ALOT more deaths from this is a miracle.

 

[snelsonbrown]

Here is some information for those traveling here - very sad

http://www.wftv.com/news/26574830/detail.html

 

[izzinmac]

The latest from Florida Today. The overpass will have to be rebuilt. Down at least 30 days
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20110122/NEWS01/101220317/DOT-Overpass-needs-to-be-rebuilt