West Avenue Phase III Neighborhood Improvement Project

This crucial project will significantly reduce the flood risk for the West Avenue neighborhood allowing it to remain a walkable, active community for many years to come. Through holistic urban design, this aims to upgrade the City infrastructure with all new water and wastewater pipes, street lighting system, landscaping, and a robust stormwater drainage system combined with a raised roadway to minimize street flooding from sea level rise and increasingly intense storm events. It will improve walking and biking experiences and beautify the neighborhood with trees and a cohesive aesthetic. This work ties in to the previous work performed during the first and second phases of the project bringing needed improvements to one of the lowest lying areas in the city.

• New underground infrastructure will replace the existing, aging water and sewer lines and minimize chances of future breaks and interruptions in service.
• Wider sidewalks, more landscaping and buffered, continuous bicycle lanes along West Avenue will enhance the pedestrian and bicycling experience.
• The project will connect to the newly installed new stormwater treatment system (pump station) in the parking lot (P24) at 1671 West Avenue to help minimize flooding from rain events throughout the neighborhood.
• Raised roads and sidewalks will mitigate today’s “sunny-day flooding” and the long-term impacts of sea level rise within the low-lying neighborhood.
• New trees and landscaping will provide a more robust tree canopy, which will help reduce the heat island effect by providing more shade.
• A new streetlight system will enhance residents’ safety.

Construction is currently scheduled to begin in 2027. It is anticipated to last a few years.

The project limits are:

• West Avenue between 8 Street and 14 Street including the side streets between West Avenue and Alton Road

To combat sea level rise, ensure usability of the roadway system and extend the useful life of our roads, Miami Beach has established a policy to raise the roads. The City’s new policy is that the crown of roads should be at a minimum elevation of 3.7 feet American Vertical Datum (NAVD), a horizontal reference system. A common misconception is that this means roads should be raised by 3.7 feet in all areas. In reality, the policy means that roads should be raised to an elevation of 3.7 feet NAVD only where they are not already at that elevation. The roads within this project area are low lying and will be raised by approximately 24 inches on average.

Phase 3 of the West Avenue Neighborhood Improvements Project includes the following infrastructure and roadway improvements:

Infrastructure Improvements:

• Installing a new stormwater drainage system
• Installing a new sanitary sewer main and laterals
• Installing a new water main and service lines

Roadway Improvements:

• Elevating the roadway
• Constructing new curb, gutter and sidewalks
• Installing new crosswalk pavers at various intersections
• New ADA compliant ramps
• Installing new signage and pavement markings
• Installing new protected bicycle lanes along West Avenue
• Installing new street and pedestrian lighting and traffic signals
• Grading new roadway elevation to private property (Harmonization)
• Installing new landscaping
• Installing decorative street ends on 10 Street

During construction, some of the existing on-street parking spaces will be removed for construction activities to take place. The project team understands the importance of parking availability in the neighborhood and will work closely with the construction team – as well as the Parking and Transportation departments – to identify parking loss mitigation strategies and resolutions.

Additionally, private property parking access may be impacted for short periods of time during construction. The Public Information Liaison will coordinate with the construction team and affected properties to ensure alternative on-site parking is provided.

On-street parking along West Avenue will be removed to make space for wider sidewalks and protected bicycle lanes. The center turn lane will remain in place. Parking along the numbered streets will be slightly reduced in order to comply with modern driver visibility requirements and parking dimension requirements that promote pedestrian and vehicular safety.

Aurora Gonzalez
aurora@hmlpublicoutreach.com
(305)904-3447

Heather M. Leslie
heather@hmlpublicoutreach.com
(305)905-5876