MIAMI — Construction work on a major Miami thoroughfare upgrade—delayed by more than a year and the subject of a lawsuit filed by the City of Miami—is substantially complete and final inspections are being carried out, the Florida Department of Transportation said.
After close to three years of work on W. Flagler Street, which was hugely disrupted along the route, the final layer of asphalt pavement is in place, the department said.
"The work along W Flagler Street is substantially completed. The second and final layer of asphalt pavement has been placed throughout the entire project corridor," Ivette Ruiz-Paz, a communications specialist with the department, told the Florida Record.
"The vehicular travel lanes, on-street parking lanes, exclusive bicycle lane and sidewalks are all open. Final inspections are now taking place."
But a lawsuit filed by the City of Miami against the department remains in play, according to Miami-Dade Circuit Court records.
The city filed suit in December, seeking injunctive relief and damages if the work was not completed before Dec. 31. A 20-day summons was issued Jan. 4.
In its complaint, the city said the contrators failed to meet deadlines. Work on the $45 million project to upgrade drainage, rebuild sidewalks, and add a bike lane, which began in March, 2016, was due to be completed before the end of 2017.
The complaint included images of the street and referenced news reports and interviews with local business owners describing the three-mile stretch as a "war zone" and appearing like post-Category 5 Hurricane.
As work appears to be coming to an end, business owners are wondering whether it is too little, too late.
In an interview with the Miami Herald, the owner of a salon at the corner of Flagler and 12th Avenue said he had run through all his savings in the years since construction begfan.
Jorge Marrero told the newspaper he does not know whether he will be able to save the business, Siglo XXI Beauty Salon, one that has been open for 16 years. Other business around him have closed.