Hialeah continues bridge construction, applies to work on town property

The city of Hialeah has applied for a permit from Miami Lakes to extend its Northwest 170th Street road construction into the town, despite a lawsuit the town filed against the city, developers and
Miami-Dade County to halt work on its portion of the street.
At issue is whether a bridge -- which was built for agricultural use, spans Interstate 75 and would connect Northwest 170th Street on either side -- should be opened.
Miami Lakes doesn’t want that to happen unless other area road improvements are made to alleviate the anticipated gridlock and impact upon the town’s quality of life and its ability to provide police and fire protection.
Photographs of road work and heavy equipment on Hialeah’s side of the bridge were posted on social media.
Hialeah Mayor Carlos Hernandez confirmed that the bridge project is underway.
“The county approved it and we’re moving forward with construction,”
Hernandez told The Miami Laker on Dec. 13. “Construction is being done as we speak.”
Hernandez said an opened bridge “will be successful for both communities” and predicted it would improve traffic flow.
Hernandez could not provide a timetable for completion of road work on Hialeah’s side.
The state owns the bridge.
Miami Lakes Town Manager Edward Pidermann said of Hialeah’s paperwork, “We are reviewing the permit application and plans.”
At its side of the street near the bridge, Miami Lakes installed a wooden fence and planted eight trees.
A spokeswoman from Miami-Dade County said that because of the lawsuit, she could not comment.
In October, the town sued Hialeah and the county as well as Lennar Corporation, Two Lakes Lennar LLC and Downrite Engineering & Development Corporation.
Miami Lakes says it owns the southern portion of Northwest 170th Street on the east side of the bridge, which is also the town’s northern border.
Developers’ excavation for a drain on the east side of the bridge and road on Oct. 2, partially infringing on Miami Lakes’ property, prompted the town’s legal action.
Hialeah has filed to dismiss the lawsuit, which is ongoing.
New Hialeah neighborhoods on the west side of the bridge have about 2,000 residences, and new home construction continues.
There is only Northwest 97th Avenue available for those residents, who must drive south to Northwest 138th Street to reach the Palmetto Expressway or Interstate 75.
Hialeah has the right to open the bridge on its property, but it can’t complete the project in Miami Lakes until the lawsuit is resolved, Town Attorney Raul Gastesi said.
“It would be very difficult if they don’t comply with the 2003 road transfer agreement,” Gastesi said.
That agreement between Miami Lakes and
Miami-Dade County gave the town control over the planning, designing and construction of most local roads, including Northwest 170th Street.
Gastesi said the county or the Florida Department of Transportation should improve other byways before the bridge is opened.
Those improvements would include connecting Northwest 67th Avenue and Northwest 87th Avenue to the Gratigny Parkway; building underpasses for the Palmetto Expressway at Northwest 146th Street and Northwest 160th Street and connecting Northwest 170th Street to Florida’s Turnpike.
“We’re not saying don’t open up the bridge,” Gastesi said. “These roads improvements must be made first.”