LTC 035-2008 Washington Avenue Bridge Closurem /~IAMIBEAC
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
ZO~~ JAN 30 PM 3' 01
NO. LTC # o3s-2oo8 LETTF~~j~Q~,.~'Iy1~11~ON
TO: Mayor Matti H. Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager(
DATE: January 30, 2008
5uB1ECT: Washington Avenue Bridge Closure
On January 14, 2008, the City of Miami Beach (City) was issued a Notice of Bridge Closure letter by the
Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six Office recommending the immediate closure of the
Washington Avenue Bridge to all traffic, due to the intensifying deteriorating structural conditions of the
bridge. FDOT is the agency responsible for inspecting and ensuring the safety of all bridges statewide, for
both county and local governments.
The City of Miami Beach has a total inventory offorty-three (43) bridges, twenty three (23) of which are City-
owned bridges, twelve (12) of which are owned by Miami-Dade County (MDC), and eight (8) of which are
owned by FDOT. FDOT inspects all of the bridges on a recurrent basis and the average lapse time between
inspections is generally 2 years. However, depending on the observed conditions during the inspection, a
bridge may enter into a more periodic inspection program, such as a yearly basis. Along with the
Washington Avenue Bridge, there are two (2) City of Miami Beach owned bridges which have also been
rated structurally deficient by FDOT at their last inspection. These bridges are as follows:
Table 1. Structurally Deficient City-Owned Bridges in Miami Beach
Bride Status
th Declared structurally deficient in 2002. Repairs occurred in 2004,
17 Street Bridge and additional re airs are scheduled for 2008.
Convention Center Declared structurally deficient in 2006. Currently being repaired
Bride and scheduled for com letion b Janua 31, 2008.
Washington Ave. Declared structurally deficient in 2007. Scheduled for repairs in
Bridge 2008.
The term "Structurally Deficient" means that FDOT believes a bridge should undergo a series of repairs or
replacement within the next six (6) years. FDOT's policy is to repair or replace all the structurally deficient
state owned bridges during that time. The department also recommends that local governments follow the
same schedule for their structurally deficient bridges. To date, the City has been complying with FDOT's
recommendations.
The Washington Avenue Bridge had been under a yearly inspection program since 2002. However, the
bridge was not declared structurally deficient until late 2007. Based on the November 26, 2007 FDOT
Inspection Report and a subsequent Deficiency Alert letter issued by FDOT to the City on December 14,
2007, the City developed an immediate course of action by re-prioritizing the repairs of the Washington
Avenue Bridge within its Citywide Bridge Rehabilitation/Maintenance Program and slating the Bridge for
repairs in 2008.
LTC
January 30, 2008
Washington Avenue Bridge Closure
Page 2 of 2
Below is a historic outline of the Inspection Findings of the Washington Avenue Bridge since 2002.
Table 2. Washington Avenue Inspection Findings (2002-2007)
Year Structually Deficient
2002 No
2003 No
2004 No
2005 No
2006 No
2007 Yes
The above table clearly illustrates that the Washington Avenue Bridge had not been deemed structually
deficient until very recently. It was not until late 2007 that the structure was declared structurally deficient.
Note also that both the exponential and rapid decrease during the last two years. Although the exact
reasons why this structure experienced such a rapid and exponential deterioration are not fully ascertained
at this time, it is evident that years of exposure to the elements, increased traffic volume as well as loading
impacts associated to growing construction equipment activity to nearby sites may have had a role in its
accelerated deterioration.
Immediately following the 2007 inspection report, FDOT, in a follow-up letter dated January 4, 2008, further
advised the City, that the truck traffic weight limits for the bridge would need to be lowered and posted;
however, the recommendations of this same letter did allow for vehicles and trucks over the Bridge. In the
interest of developing a proactive approach to rehabilitating the Bridge, the City immediately developed a
response plan and a course of action. The Bridge Rehabilitation/Maintenance Program Report was revised
to make the repairs of the Washington Avenue Bridge a top priority, construction drawings were given to
FDOT on January 7, 2008 to assist with the re-rating of the bridge, and City staff began to develop the
technical scope of work for repairs as interpreted in the November 2007 inspection report.
Surprisingly, a new communication from FDOT arrived on January 14, 2008 advising the City to immediately
close the bridge to all traffic.
Under this new directive, the City has now proceeded to immediately close the Bridge and is presently
developing a scope of services to address the repairs under an emergency condition as well as undertake
the necessary steps to redirect the traffic in a safe and efficient manner. Information as to the rehabilitation
of the Bridge as well as repair timelines and anticipated bridge re-opening will be provided to you in a future
LTC. The Public Works Department has coordinated with the City's Public Relations Specialist to ensure
the public is kept thoroughly informed.
Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) Plan
The Public Works Department has coordinated with the Police and Fire Departments as well as with the
Miami-Dade County Public Works Department and FDOT to develop a MOT Plan.
Miami International Boat Show 2008
The bridge will not be fully restored for the 2008 Miami International Boat Show (Boat Show), which begins
staging on February 7, 2008 and opens to the public from February 14-18, 2008.There are impacts to the
logistics of the accessibility of staging vehicles for the Boat Show. A MOT plan specific to the Boat Show
will be developed by next week.
Should you have any questions do not hesitate to contact me at 305-673-7080.
RCM/F~cl
F:\workl$ALL1(1) EMPLOYEE FOLDERSICHRISTINE LEDUC1TransportationlLTClWash Bridge Closure_revl.doc