LTC 246-2019 Installation of an Additional Southbound Left Turn Lane at the Intersection of Alton Road and N. Michigan AvenueMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
246-2019
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
the City ~ TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: April 26, 2019
SUBJECT: INSTALLATION OF AN ADDITI AL SOUTHBOUND LEFT TURN LANE AT THE
INTERSECTION OF ALTON ROAD AND N. MICHIGAN AVENUE
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (LTC) is to provide information on an upcoming Florida
Department of Transportation (FOOT) intersection improvement project on Alton Road and N.
Michigan Avenue.
The project consists of roadway widening, drainage improvements, new curb and gutter, new
street lights, new signalization, and repaving. The main objective of the project is the
reconfiguration of the intersection to create an additional southbound left turn lane from Alton
Road to N. Michigan Avenue. This project was recommended in the 2014 Miami Beach
Convention Center Hotel Traffic Impact Study as a capacity improvement to enhance access from
Alton Road to the Convention Center, particularly for vehicles coming from the Julia Tuttle
Causeway. Currently, this intersection is a choke point for southbound traffic during special
events and high impact periods.
Lane closures related to the project were scheduled to begin on Monday, April 29, 2019; however,
pursuant to coordination with the City's Transportation Department staff, FOOT has agreed to
delay the lane closures to begin on Wednesday, May 1, 2019 in order to not impact traffic flow
during the eMerge of the Americas Conference. The project is scheduled to end in November
2019. In an attempt to expedite the project schedule, FOOT has changed its initial approach to
the project and will be closing one lane in only one direction at a time, rather than closing a lane
in both directions simultaneously as originally planned. This will allow the contractor to dedicate
its entire crew to focusing on completing the work on one side of the street, thereby expediting
the lane closure schedule. To carry out the construction, the contractor will need to permanently
close lanes following the below phased approach:
• Phase 1-Southbound right (outside) lane will be closed for drainage, roadway, and signal
work.
• Phase 2-Northbound right (outside) lane will be closed for drainage, roadway, and signal
work.
• Phase 3 -The inside lanes in the northbound and southbound directions will be closed
for median work.
At least one lane in each direction will remain open on Alton Road at all times. Given the
permanent lane closures, traffic congestion on Alton Road will likely result in cut-through traffic
on adjacent roads. The City has requested that FOOT provide additional funding for off-duty
Miami Beach police officers to control traffic through the work-zone and adjacent roads.
As part of the City's on-going Traffic Monitoring and Management Program, the City currently has
LTC-FOOT Project for installation of an additional southbound left turn lane at the intersection of Alton Road and
Michigan Avenue
April 26, 2019
Page 2
a camera installed at this intersection which will be utilized to monitor congestion, disseminate
traffic information, and deploy mitigation strategies as needed. In addition, the City's Traffic
Engineer has scheduled traffic signal timing changes based on the anticipated impacts to traffic
flow at this intersection and along Alton Road. Signal timing will be modified as necessary
throughout the project based on traffic conditions during construction.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Attachment: FOOT Project Fact Sheet
JLM/KGB/J~Q/j;DNVRP
F:\TRAN\$ALL\L TC\L TC-FOOT Alton Rd & Michigan Avenue intersection Enhancement Project.docx
FOOT
UPCOMING WORK
ADVISORY
State Road (SR} 907/ Alton Road at Michigan Avenue
Southbound Alton Road Lane Closure
Work Estimated to Begin: May 11 2019
The Florida Department of Transportation (FOOT) is scheduled to continuously close one southbound lane and the
parking lane along Alton Road near Michigan Avenue beginning the Wednesday, May 1 for approximately six weeks.
During this time, the contractor will be installing drainage structures and pipe and rebuilding the travel lane.
WHAT TO EXPECT
One southbound lane and the parking lane will be
closed on Alton Road near the intersection of Michigan
Avenue for drainage work.
One southbound travel lane and the left turn lane at
the intersection will remain open during this work.
No lane closures will be performed along northbound
Alton Road during this time.
HELPFUL TIPS
• Allow extra time to reach your destination
• Obey all posted work zone signs and detour routes
ALWAYS PUT SAFETY FIRST
WORK IMPACTS
On-street parking within the work zone will be closed
during this work. Access to homes will be maintained.
Any disruptions to access will be coordinated. future
closures will take place along northbound Alton Road and
in the median.
BACKGROUND
This work is part of the overall improvements to the
intersection of Alton Road and Michigan Avenue. The
project is scheduled through November 2019.
For your safety and the safety of others, please use caution when driving, walking or biking around any construction
zone. Wearing a safety belt is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle
crashes. The department takes steps to reduce construction effects, but you might experience the following around
the work site.
• Travel lane closures and pedestrian detours
• Increased dust and noise
• Workers and equipment moving around the area
Please note that this schedule could change due to bad weather or other unexpected conditions.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact Project Oversite II Melissa Mojarena De
Zayas, P.E., (305) 968-4079,or Community Outreach Specialist Heather M.
Leslie at (305) 905-5876 or via e-mail at Heather@hmlpublicoutreach.com.
[!] ~ [!] Please visit our website:
•
www.fdotmiamidade.com
For real-time traffic information dial 511 or visit:
www.fiSll.com
~SIX ~
1000 NW 111 AVENUE MIAMI, FL 33172
ADVISORY
State Road (SR) 907 I Alton Road at Michigan Avenue
Southbound Alton Road Lane Closure
Work Estimated to Begin: May 1, 2019
Southbound Alton Road at Michigan Avenue Lane Closure
LEGEND
Work
Zone
One travel lane
and turn lane
remain open
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information, please contact Project Oversite II Melissa Mojarena De
Zayas, P.E., (305) 968-4079,or Community Outreach Specialist Heather M .
Leslie at (305) 905 -5876 or via e-mail at Heather@hmlpublicoutreach.com .
[!]~[!] Please visit our website:
• www.fdotmiamidade.com
For real-time traffic information dial 511 or visit:
www.fiSll.com 1000 NW 111 AVENUE MIAMI, FL 33172