MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – After a judge’s order, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner was forced to reopen Ocean Drive to vehicular traffic. The city had turned the iconic boulevard, known for its row of historic Art Deco buildings in South Beach, into a pedestrian promenade with bicycle lanes.

Miami Beach closed Ocean Drive to cars entirely during the pandemic in May 2020. The city moved to the current configuration in January 2022, with initial approval from the county for one-way southbound car traffic with a two-way bike lane and the pedestrian promenade at the north end of the street.

The city of Miami Beach announced that it is reopening Ocean Drive for two-way vehicle traffic and will remove bike lanes.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner will not be forced to reopen Ocean Drive to vehicular traffic this weekend after an appeal court judge put a county judge’s order on a temporary hold Friday.

A judge initially ordered the city to comply by January 15, but a stay was granted, giving the city an extension.

Ocean Drive will reopen to two-way traffic after the Clevelander sued the city of Miami Beach, alleging the barriers in place harmed its business. Until Friday afternoon, vehicles could only transit southbound from 13th Street to 5th Street,