Agency advances study for partial interchange at State Road 924 and NW 60th Avenue

Claudia Ferri, chief operating officer of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, told the Miami Lakes Town Council on July 26 that GMX has resumed a project development and environmental (PD&E) study for a partial interchange on State Road 924 (Gratigny Parkway) at NW 60th Avenue aimed at improving access to the expressway and reducing traffic on local streets.

The interchange study, Ferri said, is evaluating alternatives that would provide westbound and eastbound entrance ramps and a westbound exit ramp at NW 60th Avenue, with the eastbound off-ramp leg not proposed. She added the assessment includes engineering, traffic modeling, environmental studies and public involvement. "We're looking forward to partnership with the town of Miami Lakes," Ferri said.

The council was told the project seeks to improve connection between the town and the tolled facility north of the site and Hialeah to the south. Robert Carballo, a GMX consultant, said standard federal and state procedures will drive evaluations such as noise analysis and community input. "We measure background noise and then we measure as the new traffic comes in in the future what that noise will be," Carballo said.

Why it matters: Town leaders described the project as one of several regional improvements that could redistribute traffic and relieve congestion on primary local arteries that feed the expressway. Council members said earlier, limited access forces some motorists to use local streets to reach the expressway and that additional links could reduce neighborhood cut-through traffic.

Key details reported by GMX: - Location: SR 924 (Gratigny Parkway) at NW 60th Avenue, northern side adjacent to Miami Lakes; Hialeah lies south of the corridor. - Existing conditions: SR 924 is a six-lane tolled urban facility with roughly 64,500 AADT; NW 60th Avenue carries about 28,500–39,000 AADT on segments cited in the presentation. - Build alternatives under study: westbound entrance ramp from NW 60th, eastbound entrance ramp, and a westbound exit ramp; an eastbound exit ramp was not included in the alternatives now being evaluated. - Engineering constraints cited: a large water tower on the Hialeah side and proximity of local homes; a canal relocation and some right-of-way changes would likely be required in some alternatives. - Process and schedule: GMX is in the PD&E stage, will hold an alternatives public workshop followed by a public hearing, and, if the PD&E recommends construction, GMX expects to advertise a design–build contract and aims for construction to start near the end of 2026.

Public input and mitigation: Ferri and the consultant emphasized the PD&E process will analyze environmental and social impacts and include noise studies. Ferri said noise walls and other mitigation measures will be considered if studies identify a need. Carballo said noise consultants are already collecting samples and that the process follows federal requirements and includes community outreach.

Questions from council members focused on noise walls, tree and canal impacts, and whether private property would be taken. Ferri said GMX expects to minimize right-of-way impacts and that the primary expected effect on private property would be canal relocation rather than large takes of commercial parcels; she said GMX has a relatively wide right-of-way in the corridor and did not foresee imminent domain as likely but noted more detailed analysis will follow.

Next steps: GMX will hold public workshops and hearings during the PD&E. The council and mayor indicated they would review the PD&E results and consider a formal resolution supporting the project if the study recommends proceeding. The timeline presented by GMX indicated rapid movement if studies are favorable, with potential construction procurement in 2026.

Ending: The project remains in study; residents and stakeholders will have opportunities to review alternatives at upcoming public workshops and hearings during the PD&E phase. GMX representatives said they will provide presentation materials to the town clerk for distribution to council and the public.