City map showing path of proposed West Avenue bridge
If you’ve dreamed of a bridge crossing the Collins Canal to link West Avenue behind Epicure and Ace Hardware with the exciting neighborhood emerging at Sunset Harbor — with its good new restaurants and soon-to-open Fresh Market and reliable Publix — you can wake up soon.
Miami Beach is moving forward with its study of the West Avenue Bridge, after approving the spending of $698,000 on planning back in April.
On Tuesday, Sept. 13, the city is holding a community meeting to present plans for the project. It happens from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Miami Beach Golf Club, 2301 Alton Rd. Public input is invited.
The city has a website set up with maps of the bridge and areas of impact, as well as renderings of what it would look like.
The bridge would make travel simpler across 17th Street and Dade Boulevard between the West Avenue area south of 17 and Sunset Harbor. Currently, drivers and bicyclists either have to use congested Alton road or Purdy Avenue.
According to the project timeline, various studies — environmental and engineering — will take place between now and July 2012, and the city would then have to approve the actual construction.
The ballpark for construction cost is $5 million.
(Thanks to BelleIsleBlog reader CF for the heads-up on the city’s progress).
West Avenue dead-ends at the Collins Canal.
