Skip to content

Project Profile: SR 826 / SR 836 Interchange Reconstruction

SR 826/SR 836 Interchange Reconstruction - Miami, Florida

photo credit: OHL Construccion

Location

Miami, Florida

Project Sponsor / Borrower

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX)

Program Areas

Alternative Project DeliveryTolling and PricingValue Capture

Mode

Highway / Toll Highway

Description

This interchange reconstruction project, where the north-south State Route (SR) 826 (Palmetto Expressway) intersects the tolled east-west SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) at the southwest corner of Miami International Airport, is the last component of the 12-part Palmetto Expressway Improvement Program. This program, which began construction in the mid-1990s, consisted of widening, bridge replacement, and geometric improvements along the existing 16-mile corridor extending from SR 5/US 1 in south Miami-Dade County to just north of NW 154 Street in northern Miami-Dade County. Each of the interchanges along the corridor was improved to enhance safety and traffic flow.

The SR 826/SR 836 interchange handles over 430,000 vehicles daily and required reconstruction to enhance safety and reduce congestion. Major project components included:

  • Reconstruction and widening along both SR 826 (from just north of SW 8 Street to NW 25 Street) and SR 836 (from just east of NW 87 Avenue to NW 57 Avenue)
  • Construction of a new four-level interchange between the two expressways providing direct access in all directions
  • Reconstruction and modification to the SR 826 interchange with Flagler Street to the south and to the SR 836 interchange with Milam Dairy Road to the east
  • Construction of connector ramps and frontage roads for local traffic movements eliminating the need to use mainline SR 826 and SR 836
  • Installation of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) cameras and sensors allowing for real-time traffic updates, as well as assisting in the rapid deployment of first responders and Road Rangers to clear disabled and accident vehicles from travel lanes
  • Other connecting local street reconstruction
Cost

Total project cost - $832.9 million (preliminary engineering, environmental, right-of-way, construction, rail, utilities, construction engineering inspection)

Design-build-finance contract cost - $567.5 million (includes contractor financing costs and supplemental agreements)

Funding Sources

Federal funds - $376.0 million

Recovery Act stimulus funding - $89.2 million

State funds (state motor fuels tax, vehicle license fee, right-of-way bonds, and documentary stamp collections) - $118.5 million

MDX funds (toll revenue bond proceeds) - $241.2 million

Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department Joint Participation Agreement - $8.1 million

Project Delivery / Contract Method

Design-build-finance

Private Partner

Community Asphalt Corporation / Condotte America, Inc. / The de Moya Group, Inc. - Design-Build Joint Venture

Project Advisors / Consultants

BCC Engineering, Inc. / Stantec / Finley Engineering Group - Project design

AIM Engineering & Surveying, Inc. - Construction management and inspection

Lenders

None

Duration / Status

Construction began November 30, 2009 and was completed September 27, 2016.

Financial Status

Closed. The Contractor was paid according to a pre-determined Cash Availability Schedule and actual work completed. The payment schedule was fixed and made known to all bidders during the procurement process. FDOT reviewed bidders' financial proposals to confirm their capacity to cover any funding gaps during construction with private equity or financing. A letter of commitment was submitted by the selected bidder. The final payment was made on March 2, 2017.

Innovations
  • The close proximity to Miami International Airport imposed restrictions on the maximum height of the interchange and overhead clearance during construction, and required close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
  • The project utilized a 460-foot segmental gantry to install the approximately 775 precast bridge segments that made up the interchange's four direct connector flyovers. Overhead erection eliminated the need for falsework and cranes and eliminated five maintenance-of-traffic phases.
  • The project design accommodates future connections to the planned Palmetto Express Lanes from just south of SR 836 (Flagler Street) to NW 154 Street.

 

Related Links / Articles

Project Website

Finley Engineering Project Webpage

Contacts

Oscar Gonzalez
FDOT District 6
Public Information Specialist
Tel: (786) 280-0983
ogonzalez@mrgmiami.com

back to top