Indian Creek Temporary Fixes Begin

Work will get underway this week on the temporary traffic improvements designed to ease the pain of the delayed Indian Creek roadway project. Approved by Miami Beach Commissioners last month, the improvements are expected to alleviate traffic, improve pedestrian safety, and provide better access to properties in the area.

The Indian Creek Flooding Mitigation Project encompasses Indian Creek Drive and Collins Avenue between 25^th and 41^st Streets. While some of the work is completed, the project has been troubled by unpermitted seawall work that will require the City to tear out three sections and rebuild them and then having to reject the bids for Phase III of the project when they came in significantly over budget. 

Following complaints from residents and businesses tired of the delays and the conditions during the delays, Commissioners approved up to $500,000 to provide interim fixes. In a letter to Commissioners this week, City Manager Jimmy Morales outlined the work that is expected to begin Monday, April 29 with completion expected in mid-June:

• The installation of a pedestrian signal and crosswalk on the west side intersection of Collins Avenue and 26 street.
• The modification of the traffic lanes south of 29 street to create two (2) continuous southbound lanes along Indian Creek.
• The removal of traffic barriers and installation of pavement on the northbound lanes of Collins Avenue between 25 and 26 streets, to allow residents to make a left in-and-out on the eastern side of the road.

But… while the improvements are underway, Morales wrote, “[N]orthbound traffic on Collins Avenue between 24 and 26 streets will be reduced to a single lane of traffic. Additionally, the southbound route along Indian Creek between 27 and 30 streets will be redirected to Collins Avenue for approximately one week.”
 
Phase III of the project is expected to break ground in October 2019, according to Morales.


Photo: DMSI