South Beach is getting a new bridge to link growing neighborhood

Another infrastructure project is set for a construction-weary South Beach after officials awarded a contract for the building of a bridge connecting West Avenue to Sunset Harbour.

City commissioners unanimously approved a $9.9 million contract for Bergeron Land Development to do the long-anticipated work. Bergeron has been in the neighborhood for a few years now doing storm water infrastructure work, including installing anti-flooding pumps and raising roads, on West Avenue and Alton Road.

The project had stalled while city officials and the contractor, the lone bidder who came in about $5 million over budget, negotiated the price.

Now shovels are expected to hit the ground in 60 to 90 days.

The work will include construction of a vehicle bridge over the Collins Canal connecting West Avenue to Sunset Harbour, improvements to Dade Boulevard between Bay Road and the Venetian Causeway, and a pedestrian bridge connecting Lincoln Court to Dade Boulevard.

“These are the three components of this contract, and we were able to reduce the price of all three components,” said assistant city manager Eric Carpenter.

According to the city, the project is expected to be completed in 10 months.

Meanwhile, construction continues just north of Dade Boulevard in Sunset Harbour, where roads are being raised in anticipation of sea level rise.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 12:39 PM with the headline "South Beach is getting a new bridge to link growing neighborhood."