I-395 Signature Bridge project rises higher

As the year winds to a close, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) can boast of significant progress in 2024 on all three project corridors in the vast and impactful I-395/SR 836/I-95 Design-Build Project in Miami.

The $818 million undertaking is the product of a partnership between FDOT and the Greater Miami Expressway Agency and its contractor, the Archer Western – de Moya Group Joint Venture.

In an email to Miami Today, Oscar Gonzalez, senior community outreach specialist for the project, wrote: “At the east end of the project on I-395, several traffic shifts were completed to open additional areas for the construction of the foundations for two of the six Signature Bridge arches as well as to continue the installation of precast arch segments at the tallest arch, which will soar 330 feet in the air and is located east of Biscayne Boulevard adjacent to North Bayshore Drive.

“This year also saw the completion of one of the arches over Northeast Second Avenue, and just recently, all 41 precast, 90-ton arch segments were erected for a second arch. Completion of the second arch, located over Northeast Second Avenue, is expected early next year when the contractor will attach the two sides of the arch structure with a cast-in-place concrete pour,” wrote Mr. Gonzalez.

Later this year, the last major concrete pour will occur at the massive center pier support structure, where all six arches will converge, he said.

The sweeping construction includes the Signature Bridge over Northeast Second Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard, an upper deck of traffic built over State Road 836 and the Miami River, and the addition of one lane to the northbound entrance to I-95.

The overall goal is to add capacity, enhance the flow of traffic and safety, and improve access along I-395, SR 836 and I-95.

Mr. Gonzalez reports the old I-395 bridges have been demolished west of the Signature Bridge from Northeast First Avenue to west of Northwest Third Avenue in Overtown.

Removing the bridges has allowed crews to begin the installation of auger cast piles and constructing foundations and piers for the new, higher-capacity I-395 mainline bridges.

The contractor is scheduled to start erecting the precast roadway segments for the new mainline bridges in mid-December.

Mr. Gonzalez noted that below the new I-395, a concept plan has been adopted for the 33 acres of community spaces. FDOT and the City of Miami are working collaboratively on the final design of the community spaces that will be constructed as part of the project, he said.

Mr. Gonzalez said, “This year, the City of Miami was awarded a $60.3 million US Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities and Neighborhoods Program Grant that will help fund many of the amenities that residents and visitors will enjoy.”

Planned amenities include interactive water features, an amphitheater, a dog play area, play spaces, 15 acres of urban gardens, a one-mile central promenade, and many others, he said.

His latest email offers more details on the status of the work:

This year also saw completion and final acceptance of the concrete replacement work on I-95 from Northwest 17th Street to Northwest 29th Street.

Work has been substantially completed on the southern end from Northwest 17th Street to Northwest Eighth Street. The contractor is currently replacing the traffic railing along northbound I-95 between Northwest Eighth Street and north of Northwest 14th Street.

Over I-95, crews have completed the erection of the concrete bridge beams for the new westbound I-395 ramp to southbound I-95. Crews are preparing the ramp for the concrete pour for the deck, which will require partial and complete nighttime closures of both northbound and southbound I-95.

Work on SR 836 has also progressed steadily, with a focus on foundation work.

This year, crews completed all the foundations, including two drilled shaft foundations in the Miami River from Northwest 17th to 12th avenues and all the installation of augur cast piles from Northwest 12th Avenue to I-95.

All the piers west of Northwest 12th Avenue, except one at the Richard Gerstein Justice Building parking area, have been completed. Crews are working on foundation and pier construction east of Northwest 12th Avenue.

The 488-foot cap and beam lifter is currently operating east of Northwest 17th Avenue, erecting bridge caps and beams requiring partial and complete closures of SR 836 between Northwest 17th and 12th avenues.

Just west of the interchange, a massive bridge support structure spanning all of the eastbound SR 836 lanes and the ramps to northbound and southbound I-95 was poured out this year using 47 concrete trucks.

Mr. Gonzalez said with Miami Art Week in full swing, the project team is adjusting work schedules and lane closure times to accommodate the patrons attending the Art Week events.

Total project completion is targeted for late 2027.

Details: www.I-395miami.com