Urban flood advisory for Miami Beach

If the rains of the last two days weren’t enough — and they left water standing in Sunset Harbour — the National Weather Service just posted an urban flood advisory for Miami Beach with today’s deluge.

By noon, three to four inches of rain had been recorded along the Tuttle Causeway, and about three inches on Miami Beach.  More thunderstorms are expected this afternoon.

 

Alton Road construction begins Monday at Belle Isle’s doorstep

FDOT map shows construction schedule.

The long-awaited Alton Road construction project — a $32 million, 28-month effort to reconstruct the key west Miami Beach roadway from Fifth Street to Michigan Avenue — kicks off on Monday.

And the first area where roadwork will happen is the northern section of the project, from Dade Boulevard north to Michigan, according to the construction schedule.

Next week, the Florida Department of Transportation will set up equipment and material and begin removing palms, landscaping and curbing. They may close one northbound or southbound lane.

By the week of April 8,work crews will begin excavating the roadway, installing the new water main and setting up temporary street lighting. One southbound lane may be closed and the southbound left turn lane on Alton Road at Dade Boulevard will be converted to a through travel lane. By the end of April, the excavation work will extend south to 17th Street

Meanwhile, the first work on the south part of the project will involve checking for underground lines on Fifth, 10th and 14th streets in preparation for drainage work. Lanes may be closed between Alton and West Avenue and West and Bay Road.

Ah, the fun begins.

 

At last, Miami Beach approves Venetian islands streetscape construction contract

UPDATE BELOW

After almost 10 years of planning, delays and funding challenges, Miami Beach voted Wednesday to hire a contractor for the $11.4 million Venetian Island Streetscape project.

The Venetian Island Homeowners Association has pushed for the improvements to Rivo Alto, DiLido and San Marino islands since at least 2003.

Streetscape drawings show great detail

The project includes storm drainage, road construction, sidewalks (on DiLido and Rivo Alto, electrical wiring, lighting and landscaping. The contract — and nearly $11.4 million in work — was awarded to Lanzo Construction Co.

Back in October, VIHA president Jürgen Brendel told homeowners they would see a “spade in the ground” by early this year.

He may be right. Work should start soon. Because the work is focused on the internal island streets, the impact on Venetian Causeway traffic is expected to be minimal.

Update: Here is a note the VIHA president sent to island residents Thursday morning — project roughly 14 months of construction starting in June or July.

Hello Fellow Venetians

The Board of VIHA is pleased to announce that the Miami Beach Commission has today given the go-ahead for the VENETIAN ISLANDS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

We were told this is a 14 months construction period (please don’t hold me to that) and it would start in June/July.

To field any questions, we will hold a membership meeting in late April/early May.

After so many years, we are glad this is finally a reality and it was a team effort of the Board consisting of Debbie, Paula, Emmanuel and myself.

With best regards,

Jürgen Brendel
President VIHA

Miami Beach scrambles to stay above high water — on Collins Canal and elsewhere

Collins Canal seawall work at Bay Road (photo by Josh Fisher)

If you live on Belle Isle, in Sunset Harbour or the West Avenue corridor, no one has to tell you about sea rise and flooding — you’ve experienced it first-hand on dry days during high tide.

City engineers are predicting another bout of high water during April, at the same time several projects large and small move ahead to battle the salt water.

Bay Road and Collins Canal in November, 2012 (Josh Fisher).

Along the Collins Canal, work continues on the new seawall and adjacent bike and pedestrian path. Thanks to Belle Isle’s Josh Fisher for these photos of the sea wall work where Bay Road dead-ends on the south side of the canal, from last week and a comparative shot during a high-water period in November 2012.

Construction continues on the pumping stations in Sunset Harbour in an attempt to bring relief in particular to the mess at Purdy and Venetian Way across from Maurice Gibb Park and the corner of Purdy and 20th Street at the Pubbelly curve.

Location of drainage construction corridors.

And April is when construction is supposed to begin on the much talked avout Alton Road reconstruction project, which includes new pumping stations at Fifth, 10th and 14th streets.

West Avenue Corridor group to hold first-ever annual meeting

The West Avenue Corridor Neighborhood Association — a  community group that’s been extremely active on issues from bicycle and pedestrian safety to zoning and flooding issues — holds its first annual meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Mirador 1200 condominium.

With leadership from co-chairs Christine Florez and Gayle Durham, the WAVNA community group has drawn serious attention from Miami Beach officials and developers who want to do business in the area. Florez, by the way, recently filed papers to run for the Miami Beach City Commission.

Key items on the West Avenue agenda this year:

–How the city and the Florida Department of Transportation handle the reconstruction of Alton Road and new pumping stations to reduce flooding;

– The proposal from Crescent Heights to replace South Shore Hospital with a large new rental/retail complex called 600 Alton Road. The proposal goes to the Miami Beach Planning Board on Feb. 26, and the Design Review Board on March 6.

– How Miami Beach deals with valet parking and neighborhood concerns associated with the renovation of Southgate Towers on the east side of West Avenue and 10th Street and plans to open a 200-seat restaurant with outdoor seating and valet parking on that property.

– The efforts of the Bikini Hostel, 1255 West Ave., to acquire a liquor license. The association launched a petition drive to try and block the granting of the liquor license.

Hotel construction, road work, flooding and Sun Pass on Belle Isle residents agenda

Can robotic parking machines change how people feel about parking garages?

Will a new pumping system, almost complete, keep Sunset Harbour dry the next time we have a full moon and high tide at the same time?

When will the city of Miami Beach finish work on the new Collins Canal seawall and adjacent bike path?

Should digital signage — also known as electronic billboards — be allowed as part of Miami Beach bus shelters?

All those issues and more are one the agenda for the Belle Isle Residents Association annual meeting, which happens Wednesday, Jan. 16, at the Belle Plaza meeting room, 20 Island Ave.

The gathering starts social at 6 p.m., and the meeting should begin at 7.

Representatives from the city of Miami Beach will be on hand to discuss a variety of projects, and hear from residents, says association president Scott Diffenderfer.

Here’s a look at the full agenda:

Discussion and updates on the following City, County and developer projects:
– Collins Canal Seawall and Dade Blvd. Bike Path
– Alton Road Construction and traffic detour plans which will affect West Avenue and Venetian Way
– Ongoing Sunset Harbour Flooding and Pump Station Enhancement project
– Venetian Islands construction on side streets
– Proposed expansion and addition of parking at Standard Hotel
– Proposed Hotel on 17th Street and West Avenue
– Introduction of Miami Beach United
– Update on selection of City Manager
- Update on Convention Center Expansion
– Discussion of request to install Electronic Billboards to bus shelters in Miami Beach
– Timeline and info on how to register your SunPass for use on the Venetian Causeway
– Open forum for residents to ask questions and provide comments

Looking into 2013: What’s coming to Belle Isle, the Venetian islands, Sunset Harbour and West Avenue

As we cross into 2013, it’s a good time to recap the major neighborhood issues of 2012 and what to expect in 2013.

In 2012, we survived the trauma of Venetian Causeway construction, frequent flooding in Sunset Harbour and and along West Avenue and Alton Road, sidewalks lost to work on the new parking garage and shops and the new bikeway along the Collins Canal.

We saw Miami Beach and the Florida Department of Transportation push forward plans for a bridge over the canal at West Avenue.

Our culinary options expanded with the rise of the Pubbelly empire on Sunset Harbour. We’ll have PB Steak in mid-January 2013.

And what else will the new year bring?

New road projects that will create short-term inconvenience, and hopefully long-term benefit. More development pressure. And discussion of how to resolve the flooding headaches caused by rising sea level. Some key issues:

Location of drainage construction corridors.

– Alton Road Construction. The city of Miami Beach will take on a major road improvement and drainage project, starting in April, along Alton Road. The work will extend from Fifth Street to Michigan Avenue, working from south to north, and it’s expected to last two-and-one-half years.

The $27.5 million project will include the installation of a new drainage system, with new pumping stations at Fifth, 10th and 14th streets. It also will include new signage, stoplights and street lights. There will be road closings and detours for the pumping stations (on 10th and 14th streets) and the diversion of traffic to West Avenue.

– Streetscape on Venetian Isles. Work will begin on the long-awaited streetscape project that will bring new landscaping, lighting, sidewalks and drainage to Rivo Alton, DiLido and San Marino Islands. It should have little impact on Venetian Way, and will greatly prettify the islands themselves.

– The Sunset Harbour boom. We’ve only seen two stores open in Sunset Harbour shops, but in the first quarter of 2013, we’ll see more stores and restaurants and the area turning into an even more attractive destination. How will it accommodate the traffic? And what happens when the streets flood. It’s great to see all the activity, but a little worrisome at the same time.

– Sunpass on the Venetian. By May 2013, the Venetian Causeway toll system is supposed to switch to Sunpass, though the county is far behind schedule in converting the Rickenbacker Causeway away from C-Pass and there’s been slippage for the Venetian as well. Many worry the change will encourage more traffic on the Venetian. We’ll keep you posted on the timeline for this change.

Rendering of proposed rental/retail at South Shore.

– West Avenue development. There are a number of important development proposals on the table for 2013 on West Avenue: a renovation of Southgate Towers, including a 200-seat restaurant; replacing the old South Shore Hospital with a rental project with street-level retail, and a Marriott Residence Inn north 17th Street off Alton Road. There’s a Jan. 15 presentation on the South Shore Hospital plan.

 

Sandy fells new Venetian Causeway palms, floods West Avenue, Alton Road

Freshly planted palms toppled on Biscayne Island

Winds from the fringes of Hurricane Sandy knocked down four freshly planted palm trees overnight on Biscayne Island.

For part of Thursday night and Friday morning, the palms blocked lanes on the Venetian Causeway.  By 7:20 a.m., workers had moved all of them into the new median, part of the Venetian improvements.

Meanwhile, high tides and rain from Sandy made West Avenue impassible between Fifth and 10th streets early Friday, and flooded the easternmost lane of Alton Road.

Cars parked on curbs had water above their doors, and drivers heading south toward the MacArthur Causeway had to turn around at about Eighth Street.

Here comes the moon — and tidal flooding in Sunset Harbour, Alton Road

Seawater swamps Purdy across from Maurice Gibb Memorial Park, October 2010

The city of Miami Beach warns that seasonal high tides are expected starting Monday, and with them flooding is likely in Sunset Harbour, along Alton Road and West Avenue and on Palm Island.

The tides aren’t expected to be as bad as in October 2010, when flooding was severe, but salt water problems are likely, interim City Manager Kathie Brooks said in a memo to the mayor and city commissioners.

Areas particularly vulnerable, the city says: Purdy Avenue between Dade Boulevard and 20th Street; Alton Road and West Avenue at Fifth, Sixth, 10th and 14th streets, and the west side of Palm Island.

“It is likely that the city will experience some short-term flooding in its low lying areas,” Brooks wrote. “At this time, staff does not anticipate any driving lanes to be closed unless there is significant rainfall during the peak time frames.”

If you lived on Belle Isle during the persistent flooding before the drainage project was completed, you know its important to avoid submerging your car in the salt water. Many residents later had serious issues with rust damaging their brake lines and other parts.

Venetian Causeway completion timetable slides to October

Five weeks ago, we reported that Miami-Dade County hoped to finish the Venetian Causeway construction project by mid-September.

The county now says the likely completion date is late October.

Why more delay in a project already nine months behind schedule?

Tropical Storm (and later hurricane) Isaac brought work to a halt. There were more suprises with underground utilities. We’ll let Miami-Dade spokeswoman Gayle Love give details:

“The Contractor has experienced further weather-related delays, as well as delays caused by the installation of the outfalls on Rivo Alto and San Marco, where unforeseen conflicts found during excavation led to the redesign of the configuration for the outfalls.  Additional delays were experienced during coordination with the City of Miami Beach for the connection of the irrigation meters to the water distribution lines in Belle Island, Rivo Alto, Di Lido and San Marino.”

Remember that workers spent days clearing equipment and debris just before Isaac moved through. Then Miami Beach Public Works had to deal with the water main break on Belle Isle on Venetian Way just west of Island Avenue.

Of course, once the main causeway work is done, construction will continue on the individual islands. And the city of Miami is building a storm-water pump stations and piping on San Marco Island, and Miami-Dade Water and Sewer is installing water mains on Biscayne Island.

Seems like it never ends.