SAY NO TO LOW BRIDGES ACROSS THE CORAL GABLES WATERWAY

DEFICIENT PUBLIC NOTICE FOR THE UNDERLINE’S PROPOSED PEDISTRIAN BRIDGE MUST BE CORRECTED AND TIME FOR COMMENT MUST BE EXTENDED.

To:  Mayor Daniella Cava; Commissioner Raquel Regalado; Commissioner Kevin Cabrera; Mayor Vince Lago; Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson; Commissioner Kirk Menendez; Commissioner Ariel Fernandez; Commissioner Melissa Castro; Eulois Cleckley; Masi Froqui; Patrice Gillespie Smith; Meg Daley; Irene Hegedus; Maxwell Utter and Randall Overton

Re: New proposed Underline Pedestrian Low Bridge over the Coral Gables Waterway between US1 Bridge and Ponce de Leon bridge

Dear Government Leaders, Representatives of the Underline and Representatives of the Coast Guard: 

We join homeowners, boaters, paddle boarders and kayakers who currently live on and/or use the Coral Gables Waterway for recreational purposes who will be negatively impacted if the proposed low Underline Bridge is approved.

According to Public Notice, recently published in the Miami Herald over the December holidays, the new bridge would have the “same vertical and horizontal clearances” as the US1 Bridge.  Moreover, the “Character of Work” section of the online Public Notice 08-24 states that the bridge “would be at the same elevation” as the US-1 bridge, a dangerously low bridge built approximately 80 years ago that is vulnerable to storm surge, sea level rise and which causes navigational hazards for the thousands of people who regularly enjoy and use the Coral Gables Waterway, including governmental emergency service vessels such as police and fire.  At high tide, the US1 Bridge sits less than a foot over the Waterway.

It is shocking that the development of the proposed Underline Pedestrian Bridge has been planned for well over a year, yet many informed citizens and members of the Coral Gables Waterfront Advisory Board just recently (Late December, 2024) learned about this proposed bridge.  It has been reported that those homeowners who live within half a mile of the proposed bridge were put on notice via mail long ago.  However, many homeowners who live within that radius have reported receiving no mail notice whatsoever.  Moreover, advanced notice should have gone to more than 140 homeowners who live north of the US1 Bridge and actively use the waterway.  This did not happen.

As affected homeowners and concerned citizens we have sprung into action over the past several weeks and voiced objections to any more low bridges being built across the Coral Gables Waterway. Representatives from the Coast Guard responded, advising that the Public Notice was incorrect; that the published plans call for the new bridge to be 3.26 higher than the US1 bridge.  Representatives from the Underline have since reported to some concerned citizens that the bridge will now be four feet higher than US1. Regardless, of the reports, Coral Gables residents , government leaders and experts should have a voice in determining the proper height of the bridge to insure it meets all use requirements, improves navigational issues, and can withstand future climate change impacts.

In addition, the Coast Guard’s Public Notice has not been corrected and the recent reported plan change, making the bridge four feet higher than the US1 Bridge, does not appear to be reflected in the plans posted on the Coast Guard’s website and/or any public notice to Coral Gables residents.

Simply put, the Public has not been properly placed on notice about the proposed bridge dimensions, height and construction, and the Public has had insufficient time to review and assess what is being proposed and whether the bridge can be constructed higher than proposed.

The Coral Gables Waterway is a crown jewel of the City of Coral Gables.  It is not just utilized by the over 140 homeowners who live to the North of US1, but also by hundreds of homeowners who live to the south of US1, and by thousands of boaters, paddle boarders and kayakers who enjoy these waters as envisioned by our city founder George Merrick.  

The Waterway already has too many low bridges (constructed many decades ago due to bad decision making at the time), and the US1 bridge is by far the lowest, the most vulnerable to sea level rise and storm surge and causes the most navigational hazards with the thousands of Coral Gables and Miami-Dade residents who regularly use it.  It is downright dangerous.

The use of the Waterway is only going to increase.  A paddle board/kayak drop off is already located near the US1 bridge (to the North), and this will be even more utilized after proposed upgrades associated with the Underline project.  Another public park project North of US1 is currently under construction on the Waterway on Blue Road that will further increase access and use of the Waterway.

Additionally, Miami-Dade County, and all cities throughout South Florida have been battling sea level rise and storm surge risks for years.  This issue will only continue and become more intense as cities, especially Coral Gables, try to protect and mitigate impacts to the Waterway and other areas of Coral Gables.

For these reasons, our Government Leaders need to ensure that any new bridges are constructed at the maximum height possible- i.e., the Hardee Road bridge , south of US1 is >14 ft high at mean high tide.

The proposed Underline Bridge project is moving too fast, with insufficient notice to the Public and to the Government Leaders so to make certain:

·       That the bridge is being built high enough to withstand sea level rise, storm surge risks and minimize navigational hazards with those who use the waterway.

·       That the bridge can be utilized as a standard/measuring stick for future bridge projects, including bridge repair/upgrades to existing low bridges.

·       That the bridge is being built in a proper location for its use, and not too close to US1 so to impede any future repairs, work, and upgrades that the 80 year old US1 Bridge will need in the future.  (It is understood that the bridge is proposed to be built just feet away from the US1 bridge)

·       That no bridge is built that will adversely affect property values and tax revenue for our community, rendering the waterway unusable. All efforts should be made to ensure that any future bridges, including the proposed Underline Pedestrian bridge, are built at the same or greater height, or as close to this height as possible, as the Hardee Road bridge which sits at least 14 ft high at mean high tide.

The proposed bridge is too important, with too many future implications to proceed forward with deficient public notice and insufficient time for Government Leader analysis and public comment.  

The Public Notice should be corrected and, thereafter, at least 90 more days should be provided for comment and analysis by our Government Leaders and the affected Public.

If you support the position detailed above, please sign this petition, and communicate same to all the leaders below to help amplify our united voice. In addition, please share our link with your friends and neighbors.

Finally, join us on February 11th at 9am at the scheduled City of Coral Gables Commission meeting to let our leaders know that we say NO to any more low bridges on the Coral Gables waterway.

Contact Information for City of Coral Gables Leaders, Underline Executives, Miami-Dade leaders, and Coast Guard Leaders: Please act and email/contact them directly as well:

City of Coral Gables:

Vince Lago, Mayor: vlago@coralgables.com

Rhonda Anderson Vice Mayor: randerson@coralgables.com

Kirk Menendez, Commissioner: kmenendez@coralgables.com

Ariel Fernandez, Commissioner: ariel@coralgables.com

Melissa Castro, Commissioner: mcastro@coralgables.com

Underline:

Eulois Cleckly, CEO: eulois.cleckley@underline.org

Patrice Gillespie Smith, Chief Strategist: Patrice.gillespiesmith@underline.org

General Inquiries: hello@theunderline.org

Miami-Dade County:

Theunderline@miamidade.gov

US Coast Guard:

Maxwell C. Utter: maxwell.c.utter@uscg.mil

Randall D. Overton: randall.d.overton@uscg.mil

SAY NO TO LOW BRIDGES ACROSS THE CORAL GABLES WATERWAY