Years of legal battles between residents from the village of Florida’s Palmetto Bay and Miami-Dade County over bridge construction came one step closer to an end this week.
A judge with the Florida Third District Court of Appeal ruled that county leaders have the authority to build a bridge on Southwest 87th Avenue over the Cutler Canal.
However, the village council could still seek clarification, request a new hearing, or appeal the ruling to the Florida Supreme Court.
Vice-Mayor Elect Mark Merwitzer emphasized the need to focus on calming traffic, regardless of the legal outcome.
"More than anything, what we need to do as a community is move beyond this issue and start rebuilding our relationships," Merwitzer said to CBS News Miami.
County engineers originally planned the SW 87th Avenue bridge years ago, but the village fought the project in court until Wednesday's decision.
Opponents of the bridge project fear it will worsen congestion on already crowded roads, with some expecting drivers to divert onto side streets to save time.
Addressing traffic issues in a municipality with a $23 million budget will require assistance from the county commission.
"I'm excited," said Kevin Woitke, a resident of nearby Cutler Bay, to CBS News Miami. "I take my child to Palmetto Senior High, and the traffic is unbelievable."
Woitke and other supporters believe the bridge will ease traffic and improve emergency response times for communities south of the canal. Some have even created a handmade signs, posted near the construction site, to celebrate the appeals court decision.
The Village of Palmetto Bay council plans to discuss next steps during an executive session on December 16.
Source: CBS News Miami, Palmettobay-fl.gov
