Traffic Advisory: New traffic patterns on Bear Cut and West bridges

Rehabilitation activities on the Rickenbacker Causeway achieve major construction milestones

(MIAMI – March 11, 2014) – Listed below are very important updates to traffic patterns on the Bear Cut and West Bridges on the Rickenbacker Causeway:

Bear Cut Bridge

The northern portion of the bridge will be completed this week.  Between March 12th and March 14th (weather permitting), traffic heading westbound (two lanes) will move to the newly constructed northern half of the bridge.  There will no longer be any “head-to-head” traffic during the day.  Eastbound traffic will stay in the current location.  This will allow for the demolition and re-construction of the center portion of the bridge. 

Traffic will not be impacted by construction during the upcoming Sony Open Tennis Tournament.  After the tennis tournament, construction will resume with nightly lane closures through June 16, 2014. 

Along with motorists being relocated, pedestrians and bicyclists will now use the new 14-foot-wide shared-use path on the northern side of the bridge.  Please note that there will be no shared-use lanes anymore; the sharrow pavement markings will be removed.  All pedestrians and bicyclists are requested to use the 14-foot-wide shared-use path.  Signs will be posted directing pedestrians and bicyclists to cross to the northern side of the roadway.  Signs will be posted across from the Crandon Park Marina directing pedestrians and bicyclists to use the path in the parkland to access the 14-foot shared-use path. 

West Bridge

Early this week, all of the toll plaza lanes will be opened and the West Bridge will be completely open to traffic.  The 5-foot bike lane on the south side of the bridge will be re-established.  After the tennis tournament minor painting and bridge joint work will take place on West Bridge under single-lane closures.