Despite a plea from residents of Miami Lakes and Palm Springs North to halt plans for opening up an overpass near Hialeah which would bring in more traffic gridlock to their neighborhoods, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a measure requesting FDOT to conduct a study to determine if the project is feasible.
If so, construction to open up an I-75 overpass at N.W. 170 Street can start as early as this year, said Miami-Dade Commission Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr., who sponsored the legislation.
Bovo, who represents the area, said traffic relief is needed for residents following a rash of new commercial and residential developments, and opening up the roadway was the only solution to alleviate the traffic bottleneck.
“It’s like a lobster trap,” Bovo said.
He said the root of the problem stems from motorists spilling onto N.W. 87 Avenue or cutting through Hialeah, generating traffic congestion in the area.
“I understand the passion from PSN and Miami Lakes to protect their neighborhoods, but I don’t want unwanted traffic to go onto the 170 Street bridge. So, I have made several amendments to my resolution to minimize the impact.”
Bovo’s amendments call for him to file legislation to halt the project if FDOT’s study results in a negative impact, no trucks would be allowed on the bridge, and east bound traffic must turn left or right onto N.W. 87 Avenue instead of cutting through Miami Lakes and PSN neighborhoods.
He said opening up the roadway was not part of a solution for the massive traffic gridlock expected to be generated by the Mega Mall, which will be built outside of Miami Lakes near 1-75.
Stu Wyllie, president and CEO of The Graham Companies, said, “I want to be very clear. The opening of the 170 Street bridge is not part of Dream Miami’s (Mega Mall) proposed traffic plan nor is it a part of our proposed development to the south of the Dream Miami project.”
Bovo mentioned another reality to the dismay of Miami Lakes residents – opening up the N.W. 154 Street bridge in the future.
Miami Lakes and Hialeah crafted an inter local agreement in 2007 to keep that bridge leading to Miami Lakes Drive closed.
“We don’t build bridges to just have them sit there,” he said.
In a letter to Bovo and his fellow county commissioners before the meeting, Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid said his constituents deserve a better explanation for opening up N.W. 170 Street since a traffic study has yet to be conducted.
“The 32,000 Miami Lakes residents have the right to better understand the effect and change of traffic patterns that the opening of the 170 overpass would have on Miami Lakes,” he said. “The proposed county resolution states: “Opening the bridge extending N.W. 170 Street over I-75 may minimize traffic congestion and increase the flow of traffic, benefiting those who reside and work in the area.” This statement has no factual basis since no traffic study has been done.”
But following the commission meeting, Cid said a traffic study to determine the impact was all Miami Lakes had asked for.
“Our position was simple and that was to get a traffic study to see what the impact would be like,” Cid said. “As part of the process, we get discouraged because we see how hard it is to get things done. The commission chair heard our concern and understands our position. If the impact is negative to our community, they made a commitment on the record they wouldn’t move forward with the project.”
Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez, who also attended the meeting, said he was also pleased with the outcome.
“We are going to get our traffic study, which is huge,” he said. “We are working with our neighbors in Hialeah and the County Commission to try to get this done.”
Rodriguez offered another solution to alleviate traffic congestion, which is part of Miami Lakes’ transportation master plan.
He said before FDOT opens up the bridge, the state agency should simultaneously open the Palmetto underpasses at N.W. 146th Street and at N.W. 160 Street.
“That will allow two additional east/west corridors to relieve traffic on the westside.”
But some Northwest Miami-Dade residents want the bridge to stay closed despite the results of a traffic study.
“An overpass will only bring in more traffic making it very hard to get in and out of our own neighborhoods,” a resident said.
After the county placed Miami Lakes on alert about opening up Miami Lakes Drive, residents opposed the project saying an overpass could bring down their property values.
According to Cid, the interlocal agreement between Miami Lakes and Hialeah prohibits any projects, especially an overpass, to clear the roadway for traffic.
“The interlocal agreement states that N.W. 154 Street on the immediate west side of I-75 shall not be accepted by Hialeah for use a public roadway through dedication, deed or any other capacity that would allow the traversal of vehicular traffic eastbound from Hialeah into Miami Lakes, and Hialeah shall not take any actions that advocate, support, approve or permit, either directly or indirectly, the design, construction of or use of theoretical N.W. 154 Street on the immediate west side of I-75 as a public roadway for the traversal of vehicular traffic eastbound from Hialeah’s jurisdiction into the town until the term expires,” Cid said in a letter to Bovo and the County Commission.
Some Miami Lakes residents indicated opening up both bridges at Miami Lakes Drive and Northwest 170 Street could lead to an exodus, as they are mulling selling their homes to eschew the additional traffic.
“The opening of this bridge will be a total disaster for our city,” said resident Pablo Garcia.