IMPORTANT: Detailed Information on Causeway Closing, Starting May 1st

Esther Calas, P.E., Director
Public Works Department
111 NW First Street, Suite 1610
Miami, Florida 33128
Phone: (305) 375-2960
Fax: (305) 375-3070
ecalas@miamidade.gov

"Delivering Excellence Every Day"

Pursuant to the issues that have been raised regarding the Venetian Bridges Rehabilitation Project, specifically the East Bascule bridge closure, please note that the Public Works Department (PWD) must close the East Bascule bridge for 30 days for the following reasons:

1. There are approximately 4000 bolts that must be replaced. These bolts provide the connections for the structural steel members that hold up the bridge. There are numerous structural members that will also be completely removed and replaced due to their deteriorated condition. It is unsafe and impossible to do this work while anyone is on the bridge.

2. The existing bridge paint has to be removed and the bridge has to be repainted in order to remove existing rust and provide protection from future corrosion. Extensive enclosure measures are required for this painting effort and it is required to have the bridge in an “up” position while this painting work is done.

3. The bridge closure needs to occur from May 1 to May 31 since Hurricane season begins June 1 and we cannot close the bridge after that date.

As to the question of notice, it should be noted that during the past year, two publicly advertised meetings (via newspaper and mail) were held; one on June19, 2008 and the other on April 16, 2009. All the key players tied to the construction project, including the County and both Cities, were present to discuss and answer all of the resident concerns. PWD presented photos of the rusty bolts and faulty platforms supporting the bridge. Additionally, fact sheets providing project information were hand-delivered on April 13 and April 14, 2009 to mailboxes, and the tollbooth attendants handed out the fact sheet to motorists.

As to the use of a temporary bridge, it should be noted that although a temporary bridge was previously used for the East Bascule bridge, the reason that it was not used this time is that this closure is much shorter than the previous closure when it underwent major repairs approximately 10 years ago. This closure will be for 30 days while the previous closure was for over 6 months.

As to the pedestrian and bicycle concerns, PWD had analyzed the option of directing bicyclists to the Julia Tuttle Causeway and MacArthur Causeway. The former is a limited access Interstate Highway (I-195) which prohibits pedestrians and bicyclists, so it cannot be used. Furthermore, it is not recommended to use safety cones to route pedestrians or bicyclists to the MacArthur Causeway since it is a high speed six-lane divided highway with no sidewalks along the linear segment between Jungle Island on Watson Island and the Star Island Bridge. The nearest pedestrian accessible causeway connection between Miami and Miami Beach is the Kennedy Causeway from NE 79 Street in Miami to 71 Street in Miami Beach. However, since that facility is approximately four miles away, pedestrians and bicyclists who would normally walk across the length of the Venetian Causeway may use Metrobus to be transported between Miami and Miami Beach. Once the bridge closure goes into effect, Miami-Dade Transit (MDT) will be providing circulator bus routes on the east and west side of the Venetian Causeway’s bridge closure. The circulator bus will take commuters to the Omni bus station in Miami or the Lincoln Road bus station in Miami Beach. Once at either transfer point, a transfer is available to a Miami-bound bus route or to a Miami Beach-bound bus route. The Metrobus routes that will provide this service are C, M, S, K and the Night Owl.

As to the possible West Bascule bridge malfunction, it should be noted this bridge is relatively new and in good operating condition; however, in the event of a malfunction of the operating system of the bridge, it can be operated manually. The East Bascule bridge is not currently used by barges or large vessels because it does not have the needed draft or horizontal clearance. The vessels that will be diverted from the East to the West Bascule Bridge will be jet skis, pleasure craft, etc. and it is anticipated that the West Bascule bridge can handle this additional traffic.

As to access for emergency vehicles, the City of Miami and the City of Miami Beach Fire Departments have worked out an agreement, as follows:

1. The City of Miami Beach Fire Department (MBFD) will provide coverage for Belle Island during this time period.

2. The City of Miami Fire Department (MFD) will provide the primary response of Fire and Rescue services for the islands of Dilido, Rivo Alto and San Marino during this time period. MFD will handle all Fire-Rescue incidents during the construction timeframe.

3. In case there is a malfunction of the West Bascule Bridge, temporarily eliminating land based Fire Rescue response from the City of Miami Fire Department to this area, MBFD has staged a reserve engine on the Northwest corner of the intersection on the Venetian Causeway and W. Rivo Alto Drive. A MBFD reserve suburban has also been placed on the West side of the East Bascule bridge with all necessary equipment secured in place. Please see attached the city of Miami Beach Fire Department’s memorandum with respect to this issue.

4. All calls for assistance received by the City of Miami Beach 911 from the residents on any of the three islands will be handled by the City of Miami Beach Communications Operator. The City of Miami Beach Communications Operator will obtain all of the necessary information (i.e. name of caller, address, chief complaint, PAI) and handle the call in its entirety prior to transferring the information to the City of Miami Fire Alarm Office. Once the information is relayed (as a mutual aid request) from the MBFD Dispatcher/CO to the City of Miami Fire Alarm Office, the City of Miami will dispatch the appropriate resource(s) depending on the nature of the medical request from the caller.

If you have any further questions, please let us know.

Thank you,