EVERGLADES, Fla. -- Monday the Department of Transportation awarded $60 million to the state to raise more unbridged sections of the Tamiami Trail.
The money would be used for key Everglades restoration projects designed to help water flow more easily south to the Everglades.
The project would raise part of Tamiami Trail to allow for increased water flow.
This would prevent future flooding in the water conservation areas, such as the ones that happened in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
In recent years, three long bridges have been built on Tamiami Trail in Miami-Dade County to allow portions of the road bed to be removed to let more water pass.
Congressman Brian Mast was among supporters of the project. “Moving a much greater amount of water south—mimicking the natural water flow—is critically important for our environment, health, safety and economy. This project will see huge benefits to restore the Everglades and prevent harmful discharges,” he said in a statement Monday.
Senator Marco Rubio also supported the project. “I commend Secretary Chao and the Department of Transportation for awarding $60 million in federal funds, plus a nearly $40 million state match, to raise the unbridged sections of the Tamiami Trail. Without this critical funding to raise the road, recently authorized projects to the north, including the Central Everglades Planning Project and the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir would not be able to achieve their full restoration capabilities," said Rubio in a statement.
