Golden Glades getting $17 million bike-pedestrian bridge

Six major highways converge at an interchange in northern Miami-Dade County. The Golden Glades Interchange, however, isn’t known only for its complicated design and heavy traffic.

In March 2023, a tractor-trailer rig’s cargo struck a bridge at the interchange, prompting four nights of road closings to make repairs. Major traffic jams occurred last August near the interchange after a vehicle tumbled off an overpass, which slowed traffic while repairs were underway on a damaged overhead sign.

Doesn’t sound like a safe area for bicyclists and pedestrians. Which is why county commissioners last week approved spending almost $17 million, with state assistance, for a Golden Glades bicycle pedestrian bridge.

Expected to be completed by December 2028, the fully covered, illuminated overpass for walkers and cyclists will extend to the Golden Glades Tri-Rail station.

In May 2020 the county commission and the Florida Department of Transportation agreed to spend $2.5 million for planning, design and right-of-way acquisitions for the bridge. Each paid half.

At last week’s meeting, commissioners agreed, along with the state, for each to allocate $3,484,050 to start construction. Once completed, as additional county and state funds are approved, the annual upkeep for the covered bridge has been estimated at $55,000, according to a report submitted to commissioners by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.

A 2021 study for the project includes the design and construction of a kiss-and-ride facility within the Sunshine State Industrial Park, the mayor’s report says, as well as “new pedestrian bridges to connect the kiss-and-ride to the Golden Glades Tri-Rail station and transit services at the Golden Glades Multimodal Transportation Facility.

“Currently, an efficient connection from Miami Gardens to the [multimodal facility] does not exist” for walkers and cyclists, the mayor’s report said.

“This project will provide direct connectivity between several transit modes, including the Metrobus, the City of Miami Gardens Trolley, and Tri-Rail,” the mayor explained.

“In addition, it will increase safety, convenience, and accessibility to transit for the residents of Miami Gardens and neighboring municipalities.”

The interchange sits in both Miami Gardens and North Miami Beach. The six highways that converge are US 441, Florida’s Turnpike, the Palmetto Expressway, State Road 9, North Miami Beach Boulevard (Northwest 167th Street) and I-95.

The interchange was named after the original name of North 167th Street, Golden Glades Road. It initially opened in 1953 as an intersection between US 441 and SR 826, expanding into its current form in the next decade.