Miami-Dade County continues to enhance safety on the Rickenbacker Causeway

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) are continuing to enhance safety and make improvements along the Rickenbacker Causeway. Actions have been taken and additional phases have been implemented to eliminate pedestrian/bicyclist/vehicle conflict points; make repairs to the Bear Cut bridge; and stabilize the Hobie Island Beach north shoreline.

“I am committed to making Miami-Dade County’s streets safer for everyone – no matter where our residents live or whether they choose to walk, bike, drive, or take public transportation,” said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “We are prioritizing key safety enhancements along Rickenbacker Causeway for the safety of all the millions of residents and visitors who utilize this important public space every year.”

The first phase of safety enhancements located immediately west of the William Powell Bridge have been completed. These include limited access to the U-turn under the bridge, and the installation of delineators devices, pavement markings and other features were added to restrict vehicles from turning through the bike lane. These improvements were completed in July 2022.

The second phase of safety enhancements involves the relocation of the entrance driveway to Hobie Beach Park. The entrance is located just east of the William Powell bridge and currently creates a conflict point between cyclist and vehicles. In an effort to reduce this friction the Departments will relocate the entrance approximately 350 feet east of its current location. The proposed driveway relocation east of the William Powell bridge will provide a safer condition by increasing the distance between the bridge and the Park access. The proposed design for the Hobie Beach Park driveway relocation is complete and construction will be initiated shortly. This phase has an estimated cost of $370,000.

“We are advancing the implementation of critical transportation projects to enhance our aging infrastructure and ensure adequate safety, mobility, and resiliency. A major focus of these efforts have included the Rickenbacker Causeway,” said Eulois Cleckley, Director and CEO of the Miami-Dade Department of Transportation and Public Works. “With the support of the community, stakeholders and partners, we are continuing to establish short, and long-term improvements for this corridor to enhance safety along the Rickenbacker Causeway for cyclists, pedestrians and everyone who uses it.”

In 2022, DTPW, in conjunction with the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) and Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department (PROS), conducted a pilot program throughout the summer. Traffic field data collected during this pilot program, indicated that the speed limit needed to be reduced. In October 2022, an updated 40-miles-per-hour speed limit was initiated, which is expected to improve safety for community members, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.

In addition, Miami-Dade County will perform an expedited planning study - Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) – to analyze the options for the rehabilitation or replacement of the Bear Cut bridge from Virginia Key to Key Biscayne. Once the study is completed, DTPW will pursue the funding necessary to improve the Bear Cut bridge. The selection of an engineering firm for the PD&E began this month and will be expedited to start construction as soon as possible.

Finally, Hobie Island Beach covers 9.6 acres of recreational shoreline along the Rickenbacker Causeway. This area has been closed to the public since 2017 due to damages caused by Hurricane Irma. This project is aimed to stabilize the shoreline along the north side of Hobie Beach through shoreline protection and improved stormwater management along the Rickenbacker Causeway. As part of this shoreline protection project, 160 invasive Australian Pine trees will be removed, and replaced with 290 native trees, palms, and additional shrub species. The project will also improve parking, while providing a pedestrian and bicycle underpass that connects Hobie Island Beach North to Hobie Island Beach South, underneath the William Powell Bridge. Construction of these improvements is planned to begin in the first quarter of 2023.