‘Extensive structural cracking’ closed MIA’s Skytrain. That means a mile walk for many

More than a mile separates the entrance of Miami International Airport’s main concourse from its farthest gate, and passengers can’t take the train there anymore.

Earlier this month, engineers under contract with Miami-Dade County discovered what they described as “accelerated deterioration” of a few concrete structures under the elevated tracks of MIA’s Skytrain, an automated mover that runs about a mile on the top level of Concourse D, the main home to American Airlines.

“Three piers, especially Pier 106, show accelerated deterioration of the concrete,” Albert Hernandez, an engineer for county contractor HNTB, wrote in a Sept. 15 email to senior staff at MIA. “There is extensive structural cracking in various patterns throughout the exposed pier cap perimeter.”

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The county-owned airport closed Skytrain at midnight that evening based on Hernandez’s recommendation, and there’s no word yet when trains will be running again. Greg Chin, an MIA spokesperson, said analysis of the problem is expected to last through at least mid-October

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After that, MIA will decide what to do with repairs and possible short-term workarounds for a system designed to move 9,000 passengers an hour.

Skytrain began running in 2010 as part of MIA’s $3 billion expansion of its North Terminal, which merged four concourses into D, and converted finger concourses into one long structure that provided more space for planes to turn around but required significantly more walking by passengers.

A highlight of the project was the $130 million Skytrain running atop the new concourse to four stations. Miami-Dade pays about $22 million a year to Crystal Mover Services, a company backed by train-maker Mitsubishi, to operate and maintain Skytrain.

Miami-Dade hasn’t released HNTB’s inspection report or an explanation on why the flagged cracks weren’t fixed sooner. Chin said the Skytrain structure is inspected every other year, as required by Florida transportation regulations, and that “minor cracks to the three piers were identified but just monitored” following a 2021 inspection.

The issue looked more significant during a May inspection, prompting the HNTB analysis that eventually led to the September 15 shutdown.

Chin said the Skytrain system has more than 100 piers holding up the structure, and the cracking was isolated to only three of them.

For now, most Concourse D passengers have no option but to walk the route they used to be able to travel by train. On Wednesday, MIA had two six-seat golf carts available for passenger rides in a concourse where American services about 80,000 passengers a day.

While anyone can flag down a cart with available seats as the shuttles run between 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Chin said the extremely limited rides are aimed at helping people who can’t manage the walking required without Skytrain.

“We’re looking at people who are having a harder time with a long walk,” Chin said during a morning tour Wednesday of Concourse D.

Jacqueline Brennan, 57, was by the blocked-off escalator to a Skytrain platform when one of her adult daughters asked about a ride for the family of five heading for a flight 30 gates away. There were only two seats available, and three came aboard: Brennan, her 83-year-old mother, Cynthia Swan, and Brennan’s year-old grandson, Luca.

“They didn’t mention this at the desk. They should have,” Brennan said as the cart pulled away. The driver spent five minutes weaving around clusters of passengers and asking them to move. “Excuse us, please. Watch the car.”

There were no signs informing passengers a cart ride was available, only placards stating “Skytrain Suspended for Scheduled Maintenance.”

American Airlines also provides carts for passengers who request them in advance.

“I’m so glad she stopped,” Brennan said of the driver who spared her from the trek to Gate D 60. “It takes a very long time.”

This story was originally published September 27, 2023 at 4:44 PM.