The six-arch bridge over Biscayne Boulevard, envisioned as the centerpiece of a road modernization project in downtown Miami, has become embroiled in a series of lawsuits that reveal alleged structural and design flaws.
The project, which promised to alleviate traffic and connect the city's major highways, is nearly a decade behind schedule and has incurred hundreds of millions of dollars in cost overruns, despite being funded with public money.
The project, with an estimated budget of 802 million dollars, aims to connect three of the most congested highways in the Miami metropolitan area: I-95, I-395, and SR-836.
Its centerpiece is a bridge with six arches over Biscayne Boulevard, described as "emblematic" for its architectural and visual value, designed to become a new icon of downtown Miami.
Initially, its completion date was scheduled for 2021, but the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has confirmed that it will not be completed before 2029.
This represents a delay of almost ten years, during which citizens have had to endure heavy traffic, constant detours, and uncertainty regarding the future of a project funded with public money.
Delays, complaints, and counter-accusations
The FDOT has previously cited multiple reasons to justify the delays: from adverse weather conditions, supply chain issues, and the relocation of utilities, to a legal protest filed by a company that lost the original bid, which would have delayed the project's start by a whole year.
However, new civil lawsuits reveal a different story.
The main contractor of the project, Archer Western-De Moya Joint Venture, has submitted documents to the courts that point directly to errors in the initial design and defective materials as the true culprits of the chaos.
Design Flaws: The Threat of Wind
According to the documentation obtained by Telemundo 51 Investigates, the construction company claims that the engineering firm responsible for the design, HDR, did not accurately calculate the wind impact on the bridge structure.
“Had it been built according to those initial plans, the bridge's arches would not have withstood strong winds”, the lawsuit argues, a particularly serious claim in a city like Miami, which is highly exposed to hurricanes and tropical storms.
The lawsuit also claims that HDR should have modified the original design before the start of the work to meet FDOT requirements, which would have increased the project budget by around 405 million dollars and has significantly contributed to the delay.
For its part, HDR has denied the accusations in court, stating that the design in question was "preliminary" and that the modifications were part of the normal development process.
The company reached an out-of-court settlement with the construction consortium without admitting any wrongdoing. HDR declined to comment to Telemundo and referred any inquiries to the FDOT.
Defective concrete: An additional problem
It's not just about structural calculations.
Another lawsuit filed by Archer Western–De Moya targets an insurance company, alleging that parts of the bridge had to be demolished and rebuilt due to the use of defective concrete, incurring an additional cost of over three million dollars.
This episode would have worsened the perception of inefficiency and improvisation surrounding the project.
Nicholas Duran, representative of the organization Transit Alliance Miami, stated: “I’m not exactly surprised,” in relation to the allegations.
As a constant critic of the work, Duran emphasized: “We want to ensure that this project moves forward as it should. The key point here is that this is a taxpayer-funded project.”
Increasing citizen frustration
For the residents and drivers who pass through the area daily, the construction has become a constant source of frustration.
The detours, ramp closures, and lane changes have disrupted the routines of thousands of people.
"Heavy, always, at all times," commented a motorist to Telemundo.
"The traffic is a disaster," added another. The general perception is one of exhaustion.
"We have been at this for about nine years now, and it hasn't progressed, but let's hope they finish it soon," said another visibly resigned resident.
Who will bear the extra costs?
Although delays and failures have significantly inflated the project costs, court documents indicate that, due to the contractual terms, it is unlikely that taxpayers will have to directly bear these additional expenses.
The FDOT has remained distant from litigation.
In an email response, a spokesperson stated: "The Department was not part of this lawsuit, as it was an internal dispute among the members of its respective team."
He also added, “Maintaining a total commitment to safety is of utmost importance to FDOT, and the Department continues to work closely with project leadership to ensure that FDOT's rigorous safety standards remain a top priority throughout the duration of the project.”
A work that reflects the challenge of public infrastructure
This case highlights the challenges faced by public infrastructure in the United States when private interests, competitive bidding, and demanding environmental conditions converge.
The opacity of institutional responses, extrajudicial agreements without admission of responsibility, and the lack of clear accountability fuel public distrust.
The bridge over Biscayne Boulevard, conceived to be a symbol of modernity and connectivity, risks becoming a monument to planning mistakes and the consequences of rushed design.
Meanwhile, traffic continues and citizens' patience is wearing thin.
Filed under: