Use the Venetian Causeway? Expect delays for months as water mains are replaced
Two old mains that carry drinking and sewage water between Miami and Miami Beach through the Venetian Causeway must be replaced — and it will take several months of traffic disruptions before the $5.4 million project is complete.
With the Venetian Way partially closing, residents can expect to see an uptick in traffic, and commuters should brace for more causeway delays , the city of Miami Beach said.
Installed in 1994, the underground mains that run north and south of the bridge connecting Belle Isle and Rivo Alto Island are in poor condition, and the city is urgently replacing them with new pipes.
“The water and sewer mains that run along the Venetian Causeway bridges need replacement, however, the segment connecting Rivo
Alto to Belle Isle is in critical condition,” city spokeswoman Melissa Berthier told the Miami Herald.
“A number of recent pipe breaks in the mains necessitated their expedited replacement.”
Additionally, the city will be replacing all water and sewer pipes hanging from the causeway’s bridges with underground piping prior to MiamiDade County’s bridgereplacement project, which is estimated to commence in 2026, according to Berthier.
This four-phase emergency repair plan started Wednesday and is expected to be completed next fall.
During the first phase,
construction crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. as off-duty police officers and flaggers direct traffic on the causeway and through residential streets on both Belle Isle and Rivo Alto.
One lane of the causeway will be open around the clock and emergency vehicles will have access to the islands, according to the city.
Through late January, the following lanes will be closed:
Eastbound lanes and one westbound turning lane on Venetian Way between East Rivo Alto Drive and West Rivo Alto Drive.
The eastbound lanes adjacent to Belle Isle Park as well as one eastbound turning lane.
Sections of the bike lane might be closed and incorporated into the travel lane.
Sections of the sidewalk might be closed and a pedestrian detour will be in place.
A staging area will also be installed on the northeastern side of Belle Isle Park.
To access and exit Miami Beach, drivers also can use the MacArthur Causeway or the Julia Tuttle Causeway.
After the first phase is completed, more lanes will be shut down through late August.
Phase two will close the eastbound lane of Venetian Way between East Rivo Alto Drive and West Rivo Alto Drive on Rivo Alto Island as well as Venetian Way’s eastbound lane between Island Avenue’s main intersections on Belle Isle. Phase two is expected to start in late January and end in the second half of March.
Phase three will shut down Venetian Way’s westbound lanes and one eastbound turning lane between East Rivo Alto Drive and West Rivo Alto Drive. The bike lane and sidewalk from West Rivo Alto Drive to East San Marino Drive will also be closed. The westbound lanes of Venetian Way will also be shut down between Island Avenue’s main intersections. Phase three is expected to start in the second half of March and end in late May.
Phase four will consist of the closure of Venetian Way’s westbound lane between East Rivo Alto Drive and West Rivo Alto Drive as well as one eastbound turning lane. The westbound lane of Venetian Way will also be shut down between Island Avenue and one eastbound turning lane will be closed. Phase three is expected to start in late May and end in late August.