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The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) recently celebrated the official opening of Don Shula Expressway (SR 874) Extension to SW 128th Street in West Kendall after a ribbon-cutting ceremony that took place on the new bridge.
Miami-Dade Commission chair Jose “Pepe” Diaz opened the ceremony recognizing the elected officials in attendance which included U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, County Commissioners Kionne L. McGhee and Danielle Cohen Higgins, Commissioner Jean Monestime (also an MDX board member), Florida State Rep. David Borrero, and staff representing U.S. María Elvira Salazar, and Commissioner Keon Hardemon. Also in attendance were MDX board members Luz Weinberg, Darlene Fernandez, and former County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss.
Diaz then thanked Dennis Moss stating, “This project was your vision and you asked MDX to make it happen, and here it is today.”
U.S. Rep. Gimenez stated in his remarks, “The brilliance of this ramp is that it is going to increase mobility and improve the quality of life of the residents of South Dade, because they will spend less time on the road.”
Gimenez praised Javier Rodriguez, executive director of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority.
“Thank you for always delivering the transportation infrastructure projects promised to the residents of Miami Dade County, and most importantly for delivering them on time and on budget,” Gimenez said.
MDX board member Moss thanked Gimenez.
“Your leadership was bold and fearless as you led the Authority through its most difficult days,” Moss said. “When the story is told, I brought together residents that recognized the congestion that impacted their quality of life, and I asked MDX to deliver it. and that has brought us to celebrate here today.”
District Commissioners Cohen-Higgins and McGhee thanked MDX for caring and bringing the vision to reality for the citizens of South Dade. All Miami-Dade County Commissioners present stated how important it was to protect the future of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority as it assures that money collected in the community stays in Miami-Dade and is used for the benefit of the citizens of Miami-Dade as they praised Diaz for his stewardship over the authority.
Executive director Javier Rodriguez closed the ceremony stating, “Promises were made, and promises were kept as the Don Shula Extension opens to traffic today.”
The $109 million project will provide new expressway access to the communities and businesses west of the turnpike saving time and offering greater mobility. The time savings will increase business productivity and improve the quality of life for Miami-Dade County residents.
The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority operates and maintains five user-supported local expressways in Miami-Dade County — SR 112/Airport Expressway, SR 836/Dolphin Expressway, SR 874/Don Shula Expressway, SR 878/Snapper Creek Expressway, and SR 924/Gratigny Parkway. The authority’s expressways are funded by toll revenue, which is reinvested back into the community and funds the construction of projects that alleviate traffic congestion, create thousands of local jobs, and provide new opportunities to small and local businesses.
