Tuesday marked an historic milestone for Audubon and the Everglades as advocates and decision-makers assembled to celebrate the opening of the first bridge on Tamiami Trail. Raising Tamiami Trail to restore the natural flow of water has been one of Audubon’s top priorities for decades.

Although in the works for over 20 years, a compromise reached in 2008 allowed this project to move forward while planning for a more ambitious second phase. As the water starts to flow, scientists from Audubon’s Everglades Science Center will monitor the ecosystem changes and provide critical data about the project’s benefits.

The Everglades Team will also strongly advocate for construction funding to begin the next phase of bridging that will raise an additional 5.5 miles and exponentially increase the overall ecological benefits while recharging groundwater levels and creating a barrier to salt water intrusion.

For more information on this critical Everglades project, please see coverage from The Miami Herald and WPLG Local 10 News.