Even before it’s christened, Miami’s newest landmark is causing major traffic jams. Eventually, the Signature Bridge just north of downtown will create easier and quicker access to popular tourist attractions, concert venues, and stadiums. The project is scheduled to be completed in fall 2023 for $802 million. It’s a partnership of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and the Florida Department of Transportation.
Construction began in front of the Adrienne Arsht Center, and drivers are already seeing the change. Oscar Gonzalez, a community outreach specialist from FDOT, reveals that the bridge is causing major traffic issues for people who are driving on I-395, I-95, and the Dolphin Expressway.
The purpose of the bridge, which boasts six arches, is to enhance the downtown area and to add two decks of traffic, which will decrease traffic in the future. “When a bridge has an arch you have the advantage of creating a double deck and that adds an enhancement,” said Gonzalez.
Eventually. it will offer several benefits: a place for pedestrians to walk, better travel between downtown Miami and Miami Beach, and improved sustainability.