Pedestrians, bicyclists, bus riders, and motorists be warned: the easternmost bridge of Venetian Causeway will be closed for construction from May 1 – May 30. While it is understood that maintenance is essential to keeping the bridge safe, the loss of this major east-west link presents several challenges for all of its users, especially pedestrians, bicyclists, and moped operators who depend daily upon the Venetian for a safe link between the City of Miami and Miami Beach.
According to a Miami-Dade County construction fact sheet I obtained from a toll booth operator, all traffic will be diverted to the MacArthur Causeway for the duration of the bridge closure. While the detour is inconvenient for all of the above, the detour is potentially life threatening for the aforementioned groups, those who do not depend on enclosed motor vehicles for their daily transportation. Since the fact sheet mentions obstruction to motor vehicles only, and nothing for all other users, it is extremely unlikely that the County will take any additional steps in ensuring any viable options for pedestrians or bicyclists to travel in a manner to which they are accustomed.
Certain MetroBus lines will likely enjoy some overcrowding as a result, but will likely be the safest alternative for those traveling between Miami and Miami Beach. However, the monthly cost and inconvenience of traveling by such a mode will further impede many Venetian Causeway users.
Thus, please join Transit Miami in asking the County to protect both shoulders of the MacArthur Causeway with some type of temporary barrier so that bicyclists and pedestrians may proceed without immediately fearing for their lives. While such a provision will surely not appeal to every user, it will do much to alleviate the temporary convenience. and allow people to travel more safely.
To make this simple request, please contact Delfin Molins, Public Information Officer for Miami-Dade County Public Works, with this simple request. Delfin may be reached at 305-375-1682, or delfin@miamidade.gov. As always, phone calls tend to be more direct and effective.
23 Responses to Action Alert: Venetian Causeway Bridge To Close In May
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Sent!
Thanks! Keep spreading the word!
This should be interesting. PWD will have to work with FDOT.
John Hopkins from Green Mobility is under the impression that the MacArthur will be undergoing construction at the same time…
emails work better than phone calls. they are trackable. usually it works best to do both.
FROM FDOT WEBSITE::: I-395 (State Road 836) Bridge Rehabilitation Project (FIN No.: 422694-1-52-01) in Miami-Dade County from Biscayne Boulevard to west I-95 (State Road 9A): This project includes strengthening and enhancing four structures by rehabilitating columns and piers underneath the bridges and refurbishing concrete barrier walls and bridge joints on the roadway. Work began September 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by summer 2009. The estimated cost is $2.2 million. For more information, contact Public Information Specialist Monica Diaz at 305-499-2410 or via e-mail at monica.diaz@dot.state.fl.us. Motorists are encouraged to call 511 before they drive or log on to http://www.511southflorida.com to get real-time traffic and lane closure information.
Called and left a message.
How about handing out flyers or tacking them up for bicyclists going across the causeway to see?
The McArthur Causeway is a State Road (SR A1A) that falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). People should call or write to Brian Rick, Media Specialist and Outreach Administrator FDOT District-6: (305) 470-5197
Brian.Rick@dot.state.fl.us
I called and spoke with Delfin. He says they have no jurisdiction over the MacArthur. He recommends all requests be directed to Brian Rick, Public Information Officer of the Dept. of Transportation. His number is 305-375-5100, e-mail brian.rick@dot.state.fl.us
Correction: that phone number Delfin gave to me is incorrect. That number connected me to the Sheriff’s office.
…It’s always someone else’s problem. I also wrote monica.diaz@dot.state.fl.us, but will plan to write Brian as well. Thanks for the tip Mike. I hope others will stay diligent as we get the run-around.
Call the FL Dept. of Transportation at 305-470-5349 and make your request.
Please revise your original blog post with the FDOT’s Public Information Office phone number.
No reason to alienate the folks at the County when it simply is not in their jursidiction.
Will revise this evening…
I’m not comfortable with Delfin or Monica or anyone else claiming that the McArthur is someone else’s issue. The fact is, the city will close down an entire roadway for a month without making alternate arrangesments for a significant number of users.
Does anyone know who runs the M-D County Public Works and/or who ran this project? That’s who should be contacted and who should be making the arrangements with the state to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.
Found it: Miami-Dade County Public Works Director
http://www.miamidade.gov/pubworks/contact.asp
http://www.miamidade.gov/biographies/Pubworks.asp
Ecalas@miamidade.gov
She should know about this issue and also that her office should take cyclists into account on any future projects:
Esther Calas is the director of the PWD. Her contact info is below.
Her department is notorious for “passing-the-buck” and “reacting” to problems, rather then being proactive about avoiding problems.
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”
Felipe, the larger issue here is that Miami-Dade PW can’t help us on the MacArthur. It has to come from FDOT…
It is FDOTs responsibility to accommodate the cyclists and pedestrians, but it is PWDs responsibility to make them aware of the fact that they need to be accommodated. Apparently PWD has yet to do that. There is no communication or coordination between these two departments, and there lies is a huge problem. I hold the PWD and FDOT accountable. Both need to catch heat for this, and both departments should hear from us…
Agreed, that Miami-Dade PWD should initiate the issue. But we know they don’t. So now that we have bombarded PWD, it is time to take it responsibility ourselves and fill FDOTs email inboxes and answering machines with requests.
After some phone bouncing, I contacted the office of Michael Bauman, 305 854 2468. Call was returned in five minutes. I suggested to at least keep shoulders clean on both larger causeways. I was told they are working on giving all yearly pass holders a credit for perhaps a month next year. Not cast in stone.
All alternative travelers (scooter, bike, walkers, etc) … please be safe and take extra precautions if indeed using the larger causeways! And if u (scooter/moped users) can’t travel the given MPH (55+ MPH) on them, stay on the shoulder! Good luck! John
Is there a minimum speed on the MacArthur? Scooters going 30+mph on the shoulder will make it more dangerous for cyclists going 15mph. Legally I don’t think scooters are allowed to drive on the shoulder on a normal basis.