Florida Governor Rick Scott commits $90 million for next phase of bridging.
Yesterday, in an extraordinary development for Everglades restoration, a new partnership was announced to construct an additional 2.6 mile bridge on Tamiami Trail. To match federal funding, the State of Florida committed to $90 million over three years from the Florida Department of Transportation.
For over 20 years Audubon advocated for raising the Trail, which blocks the natural north to south sheetflow of water into Everglades National Park. Since the road was built in 1928, it has caused wetlands south of the Trail to become parched while water levels north of the Trail are unnaturally high.
The ribbon-cutting for the first phase - a one mile bridge - was held this past March. The plan to bridge another 5.5 miles was developed by the U. S. Department of the Interior and approved by Congress. Now, the only thing standing in the way of construction of this 2.6 mile long expanse is funding. The new state and federal partnership will help to provide significant Everglades benefits sooner.
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