North Miami council hears timeline for $3.3 million 131st Street pedestrian‑bridge replacement

North Miami officials were briefed on plans to replace the pedestrian bridge over the C.A. Canal at NW/NE 131st Street, a project staff said will be delivered as a prefabricated structure and is scheduled for completion in May 2027.

Cara Phillip, the city’s public works director, told the council the contract is for $3,300,000 with General Asphalt as the contractor and that the city expects to issue a notice to proceed May 18. Site preparation and related work will begin ahead of the bridge installation; Phillip said bridge prefabrication requires roughly 20 weeks and that residents should begin seeing construction‑related activity in June with more visible work when the bridge sections are installed.

The project scope includes clearing and grubbing, pedestrian maintenance‑of‑traffic routed around the work area, temporary pedestrian detours, and testing after installation. Phillip said the city expects a one‑year contract term and noted the structure will be fabricated in the United States.

Council members focused questions on outreach and resident notifications. Phillip said the administration will coordinate with communications and a public‑information officer to provide timely updates and to notify neighbors before any major disruptions such as demolition or bridge removal. She also said the project has multiple funding sources: federal, state, grant funds and city funds.

Council members also asked about clearance and height; Phillip said the replacement will maintain the same roadway clearance while the bridge deck itself will sit slightly higher, and staff will circulate section drawings showing elevation details.

The presentation closed with agreement that staff will follow up on outreach plans and reshare technical sections for review. No formal vote was required at the briefing stage; the item will return for construction‑phase coordination as needed.