Joseacute Abreu Has Daunting Task Of Overseeing Expansion At Miami International Airport As Countys Aviation Director

Shortly after officials of Miami International Airport’s largest occupant, American Airlines, and Miami-Dade County agreed that the county would take charge of construction of the problem-plagued North Terminal at the airport, an official with no aviation background but solid experience in transportation construction was chosen to oversee that and other aspects of a $5.2 billion capital-improvement program.

The project, one of the largest airport expansion programs in the US, involves not only turning the A, B, C, D and E concourses into the North Terminal and completing construction of the South Terminal but also adding roadways and other infrastructure, including the new Miami Intermodal Center beside the airport.

Bringing all this into being as director of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department since July is José Abreu, whose 20-year public service with the Florida Department of Transportation culminated in his serving for 21/2 years as secretary of transportation for the state, responsible for oversight of eight districts, 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $6.5 million. Before that, he was the state department’s secretary for District 6, encompassing Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Mr. Abreu, 51, subject of a Miami Today profile in December 2002, was interviewed again this month by Miami Today international editor Michael Hayes. This is an excerpt from the weekly profile article published in Miami Today. To read the entire article in full, order this issue or subscribe to the print edition of Miami Today. Advertisement