Miami Beach plans to raise West Avenue due to rising sea level

In anticipation of rising sea levels, Miami Beach city officials want to raise West Avenue — one of the lowest points of Miami Beach —between one-and-a-half to two feet during the next few years. The first phase is expected to begin in February and last until August.

This week, the West Avenue Neighborhood Association met with city officials to discuss the plans, the Miami Herald reported.

Stormwater drainage and sewer improvements, which include installing more pumps to prevent flooding from rain and high tides, will be included in the plans for West Avenue, from Fifth to Eighth streets, and from Lincoln Road to 17th Street.

According to the Miami Herald, the contractor for phase one will be Bergeron Land Development, and the first phase alone will cost about $15 million. City engineer Bruce Mowry told residents at Wednesday’s meeting that the west side of South Beach is “ground zero” for sea-level rise.

“I’m not going to stop sea-level rise,” he said, according to the Miami Herald. “But we are here to try and mitigate.”

The project has been broken up into phases because concerned residents have requested the city not tear up the whole street at once. [Miami Herald] — Kristina Puga