Miami Beach will remove the pedestrian plaza and bike lanes from Ocean Drive, returning two-way car traffic to the South Beach street for the first time in nearly five years. Why it matters: A judge ordered that the iconic tourist strip,

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.

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

It's been nearly a month since a judge ruled that Miami Beach must fully reopen Ocean Drive to cars, but the iconic street is no closer to reverting to its pre-COVID-19 traffic flow. Why it matters: City officials have used court-granted extensions and a recent appeal to delay acting on the Jan.

Hours after Miami Beach officials agreed to remove a pedestrian plaza from Ocean Drive and return the entire street to two-way car traffic in compliance with a judge’s order, the Third District Court of Appeal said not so fast.

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.