Among the appropriations made by the Florida legislature and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis are nearly $2.1 million that will allow two major road and drainage projects in Miami Lakes to move forward.
“This is the highest amount of state appropriations in any one year in the history of the town,” Town Manager Edward Pidermann said in an email on June 15, the day the news was announced.
On social media, Mayor Manny Cid thanked DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez for keeping the items in the final budget, as well as Fla. Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens and Rep. Tom Fabricio, R-Miami Lakes, for “delivering” for the town.
In February during the legislative session, Pidermann, Cid and other town officials lobbied Nunez, Avila and Fabricio in Tallahassee.
Three projects were in the final legislative budget and DeSantis vetoed one: The $400,000 West Lakes Gardens Third Addition Drainage Improvement Project.
Approved was $1.5 million for the Northwest 59th Avenue road extension and bridge project. The total cost is $14 million to purchase land and build a 135-foot long bridge over the Biscayne Canal and create a new road and drainage system so that traffic and pedestrians will be able to travel from Northwest 167th Street to NW 151st Street and Miami Lakes Drive. Other funding sources include a $3 million federal transportation grant, $3.8 million from FDOT; $1.9 million from country road impact fees and $5.7 million from the county People’s Transportation Plan.
Also approved was $593,600 for the Montrose drainage improvements project. The town will contribute $148,400 toward the total cost of $742,000. Work will include a new drainage system (catch basins, manholes, drainage pipes, exfiltration trenches, road surfacing), signs and pavement markings on Montrose Road between Oak Lane to Northwest 154th Street.