Due to construction cost increases over the past four years, the Greater Miami Expressway Agency (GMX) is now analyzing project costs and updating the price estimates for a Kendall Parkway Expressway extension that has been heatedly debated for years. The agency’s board recently awarded contracts for geotechnical exploration and contamination assessments along the Kendall Parkway corridor, said Mariana “Marili” Cancio, GMX’s chair. “In addition, GMX is currently coordinating with all relevant permitting agencies to obtain the permits required to continue advancing the project,” she added. Residents have long debated whether a route could be developed without major environmental impact. The project would offer a mobility solution for the southwest area of Miami-Dade, which has been the fastest-growing area of the county, according to the expressway agency. No additional major transportation infrastructure is proposed to accommodate that growth. Florida’s Turnpike and the Palmetto Expressway alone can’t meet the existing demand or the projected capacity needed to provide mobility in this area, which translates into longer commutes and affects the quality of life for Miami-Dade residents and businesses, according to the agency. The new SR 836/Dolphin Expressway Southwest Extension would provide additional north-south connectivity and enhance mobility throughout the area, the agency said, providing greater accessibility to major activity and employment centers. An agency project development and environment study is underway to evaluate the potential social, natural and physical environmental impacts of the proposed project. The first phase included a report that identified multiple corridors. In December 2018, the second phase resulted in information presented at a public hearing where a recommended alternative was presented. Public involvement has included a meeting with the adjacent community and one with elected officials and agencies, the Citizens Advisory Committee, along with environmental forums, and workshops. There have also been meetings and coordination with permitting agencies including the US Army Corps of Engineering and the South Florida Water Management District. “GMX continues to work with various partners and stakeholders to advance Kendall Parkway. The current GMX work program does not include any funding for the design or construction of Kendall Parkway,” Ms. Cancio said. “The GMX board will continue to evaluate the design and construction costs for potential inclusion in the future work program.” Related Posts:Kendall Parkway development back on fast trackFYI Miami: November 7, 2024Marili Cancio: Leads expressway agency toward a new…Kendall transit can’t get started until report due…Julia Tuttle Causeway may be in line for an overhead…The post Debated Kendall Parkway advances in planning appeared first on Miami Today. ...read more read less