Northbound traffic on the Overseas Highway turned into a crawling mess Tuesday after a burst transmission pipe at 65th Street in Marathon cut water pressure to parts of the Florida Keys and tripped a precautionary boil-water notice across multiple islands.
Officials issue precautionary boil-water notice
The ruptured transmission line at 65th Street triggered significant northbound tie-ups on U.S. 1 and brought an emergency response to the scene, according to the Miami Herald. That report noted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provided photos showing the long backup as crews worked to isolate the leak.
Which areas are affected and how long
The Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority advisory spells out where the water issues hit: service areas from "Lower Matecumbe Key MM 77.5 to Curry Hammock State Park MM56," including Knights Key, Big Pine Key, Ramrod, Cudjoe Key and Boca Chica Key, among others. The agency states the precautionary boil-water notice "will be in effect from now until 3:00PM on Friday, May 22nd, 2026," unless officials issue an update, and customers in those zones are told to treat tap water as unsafe for drinking until testing clears the system.
Repairs, testing and safety steps
The City of Marathon reported that FKAA crews have repaired the transmission leak and that water pressure is expected to return gradually. Beaches and parks remain open, although residents are advised to "use at own risk" while testing continues. State guidance from the Florida Department of Health recommends bringing water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking, cooking or making ice, or disinfecting with household bleach if boiling is not possible.
