NW 17th Avenue Bridge work expected to be completed by end of June

Commuters should look for alternate routes as NW 17th Avenue Bridge undergoes renovations

The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) is putting safety first by extending the closure of the NW 17th Avenue Bridge over the Miami River. This move comes as critical repairs are needed to address deficiencies in the bridge's concrete counterweight, which ensures the safe passage of marine traffic.

NW 17th Avenue bridge problems that led to this closure

The DTPW's bridge maintenance staff conducted an inspection and uncovered some issues with the concrete counterweight. In the interest of caution, they have decided to keep the bridge closed to both vehicles and pedestrians until the repair work is complete. Just to clarify, though, there's no need to worry about the steel grid bridge deck (the roadway) – it's not expected to need any repairs right now.

The DTPW has laid out a plan to address the identified deficiencies and make the bridge safe and functional once again. However, they didn't begin until December 2022 due to the ongoing hurricane season. The goal is to have everything wrapped up and the NW 17th Avenue bridge reopened by the summer of 2023.

Alternate routes recommended for commuters

While the NW 17^th Avenue Bridge remains closed, commuters should consider using alternative routes to avoid unnecessary traffic headaches. The DTPW suggests using NW 12 Avenue and NW 22 Avenue as alternate northbound and southbound routes. Oh, and don't forget to factor in some extra time for your journey, as the ongoing repairs might cause a few delays here and there.

The Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works has the community's safety and convenience in mind. By extending the closure of the NW 17^th Avenue Bascule Bridge for emergency repairs, they're proactively addressing the identified deficiencies and ensuring that the bridge will be back in action, ready to serve the public once again.

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