The Florida Department of Transportation in the US has completed a $330m road project to rebuild an 18-mile section of US 1 connecting the South Florida mainland with the Florida Keys.

The highway project features a concrete median barrier that divides north and southbound traffic lanes to help alleviate head-on collisions.

The project has been designed to allow the addition of a temporary second northbound lane to accommodate additional traffic if resident evacuation orders are given for a hurricane.

The highway features 20 culverts and underpasses for animals such as crocodiles and Florida panthers to cross safely under the road. Its 1.25-mile-long, 65ft-high Jewfish Creek Bridge was completed in May 2008.

The project took seven years to complete.