LTC 344-2019 TWO (2) WEEK CLOSURE OF THE MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY FLY-OVER RAMP MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER LETTER TO COMMISSION
LTC # 344-2019
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of he City Co fission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager,
DATE: June 12, 2019
SUBJECT: TWO (2) WEEK CLOSURE OF TH MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY FLY-OVER RAMP
Beginning Sunday, June 16, 2019 at 10PM, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will
close the fly-over ramp from eastbound MacArthur Causeway to northbound Alton Road for two
(2) continuous weeks to complete a partial bridge deck replacement. The fly-over is anticipated
to be re-opened on July 1, 2019. In addition to the fly-over closure, from Sunday, June 16 to
Thursday, June 20, FDOT will conduct double eastbound lane closures on the MacArthur
Causeway from 10PM to 6AM each day to perform various construction activities. During this
period, there will be no lane closures in the westbound direction.
In late May, members of the FDOT Project Team, Transportation Department, and Police
Department met to discuss the upcoming fly-over closure. At the meeting, various detour options
were reviewed with the goal of minimizing traffic congestion and impact to residents of the area.
One of the alternatives explored was to allow an eastbound left turn at Alton Road and 5 Street.
However, FDOT raised significant concerns with allowing left turns at this intersection without a
dedicated left turn lane/arrow or 24/7 police control. Given the current permanent configuration
of the intersection and the location of the existing fly-over pier columns, there is no space to
accommodate a dedicated eastbound left turn bay(with a left turn arrow) on a temporary basis at
this intersection during the 2-week fly-over closure.
It is worth noting that the fly-over was closed for 30 days in 2013 as part of FDOT's Alton Road
reconstruction project. At that time, FDOT was reconstructing the entire Alton Road and 5 Street
intersection which allowed for the removal of existing concrete islands and the temporary
construction of one additional lane in the eastbound direction which helped mitigate the traffic
impact of the 30 day fly-over closure. Based on a traffic study conducted by FDOT for the Alton
Road project in 2013, the closure of the fly-over increased the eastbound queues by 50%. We
can expect about the same amount of traffic congestion with the upcoming 2-week fly-over closure
as we experienced in 2013.
To help keep traffic flowing, two Miami Beach Police officers will monitor and control this critical
intersection from 7AM to 11AM Monday through Friday during the 2-week closure of the fly-over.
Transportation Department and Police Department staff will be conducting field observations
beginning on the first day of the closure and working with FDOT to make any necessary
adjustments to the traffic plan. Additionally, to help mitigate the traffic impacts of the 2-week
closure of the fly-over, the City will deploy the following initiatives:
• Digital message signs throughout the City to inform motorists of upcoming closures
• Traffic signal timing modifications along the MacArthur Causeway and 5 Street by the
City's Traffic Engineer to help dissipate excessive queuing
Letter to Commission RE:2-Week Closure of the MacArthur Causeway Fly-Over Ramp
June 12,2019
Page 2
• Active monitoring of real-time traffic conditions by the City's Traffic Monitoring and
Management contractor for 14 hours a day/7 days a week, including Road Ranger service
• Police officers at various 5th Street intersections, including Alton Road, Michigan Avenue,
and Jefferson Avenue, from 7AM to 11 AM, Monday through Friday, to facilitate eastbound
left turn movements, and patrolling of the area by motor officers throughout the day to
ensure vehicles do not block intersections
Additionally, the City has shared the upcoming closure information with residents, business
owners, and visitors via text alerts, email blasts, and social media. FDOT has also uploaded the
closure information on their interactive construction website for Miami Beach (http://www.i395-
miami.com/miamibeachtrafficreport/). Below is a map of the approved detour plan for the 2-week
fly-over closure.
436522-1 MacArthur Causeway East Bridge Rehab
Flyover Detour Signage Plan
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ALTON RD DETOUR @
FLYOVER MICHIGAN P-4•4 DETOUR USE 7TH
ALTON RD DETOUR @ CLOSED JEFFERSN TO STREET
FLYOVER I MICHIGAN ALTON RD
CLOSED JEFFERSN
Please do not hesitate to contact me or José R. Gonzalez, P.E., Transportation Director, at
305.673.7514, if you have any questions.
J LM/SMT/J RG/J FD
F:\TRAN\$ALL\LTC\LTC-FDOT MacArthur Flyover Deck Rehabilitation Lane Closure Updates.docx