An elevated pedestrian bridge over U.S. 1 near Founders Park in Islamorada is nearing groundbreaking with project plans almost finalized, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials.
Islamorada Village Council kicked off its Oct. 1 virtual meeting with a project update on the Founders Park pedestrian bridge by Sergies Duarte, senior community outreach specialist with FDOT. With the design phase kicking off in May, final plans are under review in anticipation of installation of piles for the foundation by the end of the year, he said.
Bridge construction isn’t the only facet of FDOT’s $4.68 million project. Realigning the Florida Keys Overseas Highway Trail, widening the shoulders and constructing wall barriers will also take place. Concrete sidewalk will be installed along Old Highway, as Duarte said there’s no pedestrian connection from the bridge site to Treasure Village Montessori. Chevron pavement markings will be added to replace plastic poles on Old Highway between East Ridge Drive and South Drive.
AT&T utilities were recently relocated to make way for the project that will see staircases and elevators on each side of the highway leading up to an elevated platform. Duarte said a Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority water main will be relocated this month. Costs to move the 180 linear feet of 18-inch piping is included in the state-funded project.
Overhead and underground utilities of the Florida Keys Electric Cooperative await relocation. Since the initial examination, FKEC said it was able to bring costs for overhead work, originally anticipated anywhere from $250,000 to $300,000, down to $150,000 and $200,000. Cost estimates for underground work haven’t changed, at $700,000 to $800,000. Moving costs incurred from the elevated bridge project won’t be reimbursed by FDOT, meaning FKEC shareholders will pay.
Project completion is expected in early 2022. Duarte said the bridge will allow pedestrians to travel along Overseas Highway without interrupting traffic flow, reducing congestion.
“It will enhance the mobility and overall safety, emergency evacuation and truck movements along the Overseas Highway,” Duarte said.
Candidates running for village council seats in the November election joined the meeting to chime in on the project. Buddy Pinder said he’s opposed to the bridge construction.
“This doesn’t belong in Islamorada as far as the preservation and character of Islamorada,” said Pinder, who’s running for seat 3. “This needs to be somewhere else. … It’s Miami or Broward County. The people who come to Islamorada come here for the water and to love Islamorada.”
Jenny Bell-Thomson, who’s running against Pinder, said she started a petition on change.org to gauge what the public thought about the bridge. She said the petition was viewed more than 1,000 times. Around 200 people signed in opposition, she said.
“It’s anecdotal because I can’t confirm all the signatures are Islamorada residents,” she said.
Bell-Thomson went on to ask whether village taxpayers would face financial liability from the work that’s already done and underway if a mandate from Islamorada voters wanted the project stopped. Duarte said communication would take place between the FDOT executive team and the village if there’s any discussion regarding a petition or wish to stop the project.
“I think that’s the best channel to answer any questions regarding a petition to stop the project,” he said. “Our main goal is to provide an update on where we are with the project. FDOT is moving forward at the request of Islamorada via two resolutions passed several years ago.”
In February 2018, council approved the selection of the proposed pedestrian bridge crossing over U.S. 1 at Founders Park and maintenance responsibilities for the elevators. In December 2018, village council was unanimous in supporting a resolution for a design variation to the project in order to stamp the village seal on the bridge’s elevator towers.
Costs at the outset were around $2 million, but rose through time to more than $4 million today.
The project stemmed from a meeting Keys officials had with FDOT in 2016 over a possible mobile pedestrian bridge for safe crossing during large public events. The decision was made, however, that it wasn’t feasible. A permanent bridge was the other option.
A location was chosen in Founders Park, where large events like the Gigantic Nautical Flea Market are held.
Duarte said traffic lanes will remain open in both directions on Overseas Highway during construction.
More information is at fdot.gov (search for Founders Park Pedestrian Bridge).
