One sector of the three-part road, ramp and bridge reconstruction projects that will improve traffic commutes, and safety for bicyclists, in and out of Key Biscayne has hit an undisclosed snag.
The good news is that the first project is well underway, while another is in its infancy stages. But the Florida Department of Transportation’s roadway project affecting SR 913 (Rickenbacker Causeway) and SW and SE 26th streets likely won’t start until summer rather than the intended April 15 start.
“There’s not going to be a bridge closure for that project,” said Community Outreach Specialist Jeff Baquedano. “They do it lane by lane, so traffic isn’t affected as much.”
The six-month project, in this case, would likely end sometime near the holidays.
What’s the netting all about?
Drivers likely have noticed netting and containment platforms in a couple of sections of the flyover bridges along the Rickenbacker Causeway, part of the Flyover Bridge Rehabilitation Project, in which only the setup has begun and not the construction.
“That project has started right now with intermittent closures along South Miami Avenue and Brickell Avenue to set up the containment platform,” Baquedano said.
He explained that the solid platform is needed to catch debris from bridge deck reconstruction in areas where vehicles or pedestrians might be below. Netting, on the other hand, is used over water or in unpopulated areas.
“Once the project ramps up, that bridge westbound (on the Rickenbacker flyover) will be closed for two months, as early as mid-April,” Baquedano said. “This way, we can take advantage of the closure of the I-95 bridge.”
Work on the flyovers will progress until completion, through early 2025, so residents should “expect to increase (their) commute time” as traffic whittles to a single lane. Clearly labeled detours will be set up upon exit. Lanes under concrete removal activities will remain closed.
Ramp project kicks it off
The SR 9A/I-95 Ramp Improvement Project has gotten underway with the setup stages, while work is scheduled through next spring.
Exiting the causeway, drivers will be notified of a detour, in which motorists on SE 26 Road would have to merge to the left at the fork. There will still be access to Brickell, I-95, South Dixie and South Miami, “but it wouldn’t be through Miami,” Baquedano said.
Work times will vary during the day and night.
An outline of the three projects can be found in the PDF contained in this post..
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