Miami Beach kicks off seawall construction ahead of king tide season

Miami Beach has begun construction work raising the city’s seawalls to combat flooding, starting with the south end of Indian Creek Drive.

The $25 million project will see higher seawalls along Indian Creek, new underground pipework and a storm water pump, according to the Miami Herald. Last year, the mile-long stretch of road was one of the worst hit during fall’s seasonally high tides, eventually bringing the city to shut down the road until the flooding waned.

The project is expected to take two years, according to the Herald, with the first phase starting near 26th Street.

Overall, Miami Beach is investing at least $400 million into programs geared toward battling flooding and sea-level rise. The city is raising street heights and installing pump stations in its most flood-prone areas like Sunset Harbour.

A recent study from the National Wildlife Federation found Miami has the largest exposure to sea-level rise among any coastal city in the world, standing to lose $3.5 trillion in assets by 2070. [Miami Herald] — Sean Stewart-Muniz