047-1998 LTC
CITY- OF
MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH FLORIDA 33139
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TELEPHONE: (305) 673-7010
FAX: (305) 673-7782
L.T.C. NO. 47-1998
DATE:
April 21 , 1998
SUBJECT:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
Sergio Rodriguez &
City Manager /~
VENETIAN CAUSEWAY / EAST BASCULE BRIDGE
TO:
FROM:
The Venetian Causeway bridge replacement / rehabilitation project has been under construction since
December 1995. From the beginning of construction, the east bascule bridge has been inoperable, and
a temporary bridge has been utilized to maintain access to the Venetian Islands. Presently, the east
bascule bridge is scheduled to be operational in May 1998, and the west bascule bridge is expected to
be completed in May 1999.
In response to concerns expressed by the residents of the Venetian Islands, the City Commission, on April
15th, adopted a resolution urging the United States Coast Guard to maintain the east bascule bridge in
a closed position until the west bascule bridge is operational.
On Friday, April 17th, at approximately 7:40 p.m., the east bascule bridge malfunctioned while in the
open position and the bridge operator was unable to lower the bridge. The project engineers were
summoned and the necessary corrections made, allowing the bridge to be lowered and operational at
approximately 9:50 p.m.
Following this incident, City staff contacted the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) seeking
assurances that the bridge would not be raised over the weekend, pending a meeting this week,
scheduled on an emergency basis, to address the City's concerns. The Miami Beach Police Department
was alerted to provide immediate assistance by assigning a police officer to block the possible opening of
the bridge, except for emergencies, thus preventing a repeat occurrence.
On Monday, April 20th, FDOT informed the City that the east bascule bridge would only be opened for
testing purposes, which would take place only during the contractor's regular working hours, between
9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (see attached letter dated 4;20/98)
To review the events of Friday, April 17th, and discuss the bridge's future operating procedures, a
meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 st, at City Hall, with representatives of the Florida
Department of Transportation, Miami-Dade County Public Works, the United States Coast Guard and
the City of Miami. The City Attorney has been requested to be ready to initiate legal action if the
negotiations do not result in the actions desired by the City to guarantee safety and convenience for the
residents of the Venetian Islands.
I will keep you advised of future developments in the City's efforts to maintain the east bascule bridge of
the Venetian Causeway in a closed position until the west bascule bridge is operational.
\-. li.k
~~~2~{:o~~~~EBA5CUlElTC
Attachment
c: Murray Dubbin, City Attorney
Harry Mavrogenes, Assistant City Manager
Robert Dixon, Deputy City Attorney
Julio Grave de Peralta, Public Works Director
Michael Alvarez, Superintendent of Public Works
FDOT-D6-CONST
TEL:305-470-5822
Apr 20 98
13:04 No.009 P.Ol
LAWTON' CUILB8
QOVIWIOI.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FLORIDA
1IIp:'/WWAOl.-a...
TlJ()A,^~ 1'.1Io\JUl\\ I..
idCutAKY
Dilltrict COostruOtiOD Offioe
1000 NW Illth AvCl1ue
MiAmi, Florida 33172
April 20, 1998
Julio Grave de Peralta, P,E.
Public Works Director
City of Mi8Il1i Beach Public Works Department
1700 Convention Ccnlcr DriVQ
Miami &ach, Florida 33139
Project: Venetian Causeway F..ast Bascule Historieal Rehabilitation Project
State Project No.: 81100-3603
W.P.I. No.: 6123196
PAP. No.: SE-6186,,(lO)
ContrllCt No.: 19,281
County: Miami-Dade
Subjccl: East Baseule Failure.AIJuI17, 1.228.
Dear Mr. Grave de Peralta:
As you life IlWllle, at. approximat.cly 7:40 p.m. 011 Aprill7, 1998, the C8St bascule bridge sufforcd llIl error reading
due: to ~ nWfunctioning limit switch on the fQt letd'. The opcl'ator was not IIble to successfully bypass the error
and could not lower the lellf. Tho Resident Bngincer made the ~~ corrections making the bridge fully
operational at approximately 09:50 p.m.
The current schedule of operations for the bridge ill for testing purposes only, on 30 minutes interVal. during
the Contractor's regular working hours betwCCll 9:00 a.m. IUld 4;00 p.m. This testing fwu:tion will be
performed under the CMeful supervision ofthc COflUactor'5 skilled bridb'C tcclwicians and the Engincx:r. It is
axpc:~ thtll UiliI project will be complc;tcd on June 1, 1998 at which time tho rehabilitated bridge ",-in be
returned to Metropolitan Miwni-D;lde County Cor (l.pcration and maintenance.
We regret that this instance occurred, especially when the bridge operators have been trained on the safe
operation ofthe bridge and hove been instnJct.ed not to open the bridge ana lhc Contractor" s working hours.
The importance of folloWing this procedure hIlS been reinforced to the contractor to ensure that this docs not
reoccur.
J have requested Mr. Gus QuCS4da, tho Resident Engineer on thi6 project, to schedule a meeting with your
o~, the US Coast Guard, Qnd Melropolitan Miami.Dade County to discuss the events which have tran'Pircd
and the bridge's future operating proccdmes.
~
@u~ . = M:~~'P~
District Construction Engirieer
ce. G. pego, M. Croft, S. Smith. G. Ques4da.
. (i) R;evcLCD p,r.PIOR