Downtown Miami's $800 Million Signature Bridge Awarded Notice To Proceed By FDOT

Florida Department Of Transportation (FDOT) has awarded the Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture, the contractors for Downtown Miami's $800 million Signature Bridge, a Notice To Proceed. The final chosen design known as The Fountain and will be the new gateway to Miami Beach, transforming I-395 and the entry to MacAruthur Causeway. The initiative will build a 55-acre park, known as Heritage Trail, under the bridge, as well as changes to State Road 836 including adding a lane and building Miami's first double-deck highway. The construction timeline is 4 years.

The Signature Bridge project has had its fair share of drama. In an April 2018 hearing, the State of Florida Division of Administration Hearing ruled in favor of FDOT after bridge advocate and former Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff filed a lawsuit alleging that FDOT violated their 2013 settlement agreement via their handling of bids to design and build the bridge by manipulating scoring to allow the Archer Western and The de Moya Group's proposal to win. In May 2018 a Judge ruled in favor of FDOT to allow them proceed with the winning design.

Judge Rules Florida Department of Transportation Can Proceed With "The Fountain" Signature Bridge

A judge has ruled to allow the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to proceed with the winning design for Downtown Miami's proposed $802 million Signature Bridge. The winning design is known as "The Fountain" designed by Archer Western and The de Moya Group. In an April hearing, the State of Florida Division of Administration Hearing ruled in favor of FDOT after bridge advocate and former Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff filed a lawsuit alleging that FDOT violated their 2013 settlement agreement via their handling of bids to design and build the bridge by manipulating scoring to allow the Archer Western and The de Moya Group's proposal to win. Another design by contractors Fluor, Astaldi and MCM, which finished in second, was allegedly the favorite design by community representatives. The court ruled that Fluor-Astaldi-MCM failed to prove that "The Fountain" was chosen due to corruption. The legal action delayed the groundbreaking which was supposed to commence in 2017 and be completed in 2022. The Signature Bridge is expected to cost $802 million with $626 million in funds provided via the State of Florida including state motor fuels tax, vehicle license fee, and documentary stamp collections; and $186 million being funded via MDX toll revenue bond proceeds. 

Drama Heating Up Over Downtown's Proposed $800 Million Signature Bridge For I-395

The drama continues to heat up over the design and construction of Downtown Miami's proposed and approved, $800 million Signature Bridge, which would transform I-395. A Miami-Dade judge denied a motion by FDOT to dismiss a lawsuit filed by former Miami City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who challenged the state's controversial choice of the $800 million "The Fountain" design by Archer Western and The de Moya Group. Sarnoff was a major advocate to get the bridge redesign approved, working with Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado to hold FDOT to their pledge to include the Signature Bridge as part of I-395's replacement. Sarnoff's case alleges that FDOT violated their settlement agreement via their handling of bids to design and build the bridge by manipulating scoring to allow the Archer Western and The de Moya Group's proposal to win. Another design by contractors Fluor, Astaldi and MCM, which finished in second, was allegedly the favorite design by community representatives. In their motion to dismiss, FDOT argued that the court venue was improper as another case is currently under review by Florida's Division of Administrative Hearings. That case is scheduled to be heard in November and December of this year (2017). Check-out the winning bid, "The Fountain" by Archer Western and The de Moya Group here.