Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) photo
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The oft-delayed (and much-maligned) Miami Signature Bridge has just gotten a new addition to its ever-growing list of woes after social media users noticed cracks in what some have called a $860 million vanity project.
Officials initiated the project to improve traffic flow at the I-95/I-395 intersection and, in the process, give the city a landmark to adorn the skyline. And while Miamians have (metaphorically) ripped the project to shreds, (literal) cracks are starting to show. A spokeswoman from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) tells New Times the damage is just superficial and represents no cause for safety concerns.
In a social media post on X (formerly known as Twitter), former WSVN reporter Joel Franco wrote, “There’s a video circulating online claiming to show damage to one of the Miami Signature Bridge’s arches, so I reached out to FDOT for comment.”
The video shows the base of one of the arches with visible cracks as someone narrates, saying, “I’m pretty sure freshly poured concrete ain’t supposed to look like that. This bridge that costs damn near a billion dollars, why is it that the foundational block is already breaking apart and cracking?”
The project is under construction and set to be completed in late 2029. It’s the product of a joint venture between Archer Western/de Moya Group. Neither company responded to emails or calls requesting comment.
FDOT spokeswoman Maria Higgins Fallon, however, responded swiftly to a New Times email requesting comment about the issue, writing, “The I-395/S.R. 836/I-95 Design-Build Project team is aware of social media posts circulating online that contain inaccurate information suggesting there are ‘structural cracks’ on the I-395 Signature Bridge arches.
“We want to assure the public that this is not a safety issue. The areas shown in the images are not structural cracks, but minor surface finishing inconsistencies that can sometimes occur after concrete is poured and the formwork is removed. These surface variations are cosmetic in nature and are not structural components or defects. They do not affect the safety, durability, or structural integrity of the bridge in any way. Any surface irregularities are addressed through standard concrete finishing procedures as part of normal construction practice.”
FDOT didn’t answer New Times’ questions about whether this issue would delay the Signature Bridge or raise its overall cost. The project began in early 2019 as an $818 million endeavor to improve traffic safety by reducing the weaving movement caused by drivers entering and exiting SR 836 and Interstate 95 at the Midtown Interchange; the project was originally slated to be completed in 2024. Multiple delays pushed the timeline to 2027, then 2029, while multiple cost inflations ballooned the price tag to $840 million and now $866 million.
