LTC 110-2008 FPL Transmission Line
2006 APR I I PI~9 4= 3 I
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC# iio-loos LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager f~
DATE: April 10, 2008
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SUBJECT: FPL Transmission Line
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you with information on a Florida Power and
Light (FPL) Transmission Line Project. FPL will be installing a new 138kV sub-
aqueous/underground transmission line approximately 15,000 feet in length from the FPL Overtown
Substation through Biscayne Bay to the FPL Venetian Substation located at 1925 West Avenue in
the Sunset Harbour neighborhood. The new power line has been programmed by FPL to continue
providing reliable service and to meet the growing energy demand in Miami-Dade County,
particularly in the areas of downtown Miami and Miami Beach. The installation of the transmission
line will require temporary closure of some roads and intersections. On land construction operations
for both the sub-aqueous and on land installation will begin on April 14, 2007 and all major work is
estimated to be completed by August 2008. Additional minor closures may be needed intermittently
between August 2008 and December 2008.
FPL has retained Jacobs Engineering, Inc. for the design and construction oversight of the Project,
the same firm has been retained to conduct a thorough traffic study and determine the impacts the
construction work and street closures will have on the surrounding transportation network.
To ensure minimum interruption to the area's traffic during the construction activities and to protect
workers and equipment from the traveling public, FPL has developed a construction phasing plan
with detailed traffic control plans and detours for each phase of the construction. Four construction
phases are proposed and are listed below.
This project is anticipated to be conducted in the following phases:
Phase 1. The intersection of Bay Road and 18th Street will be closed for approximately sixty (60)
days. This work is estimated to begin April 16, 2007. This is the point from which FPL will directional
drill under Purdy Avenue and the northern side of Maurice Gibbs Park to connect to the sub-
aqueous line being installed below the Biscayne Bay bottom. This specific area was selected as
being the least impactful means of constructing the transmission power line.
Phase 2. The mid-block area of 18th Street between Bay Road and West Avenue will be closed for
approximately one (1) week. The road closure is required to trench the road through an open out,
install the cable and backfill.
Phase 3. The intersection of West Avenue and 18t" Street will be closed for one (1) week. The road
closure is required to trench the road through an open out, install the cable and backfill.
LTC
April 10, 2008
FPL Transmission Line
Page 2 of 2
Phase 4. Two-thirds (2/3) of the block of West Avenue immediately north of the intersection of
West Avenue and 18t" Street and ending at the FPL substation south of 20t" Street will be closed for
two (2) weeks. During this phase, northbound traffic will not be permitted north of the intersection.
In the southbound direction, a ten (10) foot travel lane will be maintained for southbound traffic so as
to provide access to the businesses on the west side of the street. The road closure is required to
trench the road through an open out, install the cable and backfill.
FPL and City staff are conducting an ongoing public involvement process to ensure the impacted
residents and business owners are made aware of the construction work and street closures. FPL
hosted a public meeting on March 19t", 6:30 p.m., in the Sunset Harbour North Building at 1900
Sunset Harbour Drive. The Public Works Departmentwill also issue a TrafficAdvisory regarding the
street closures.
For your information, FPL is using a fenced piece area on the south side of the Julia Tuttle
Causeway as a lay down yard in which pipe is assembled and then floated into place to be placed in
the bay for the new power line.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
/FV/XF/cl
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