The 836 expansion into Kendall got a preliminary approval from commissioners. NBC 6 Reporter Stephanie Bertini explains.
Miami-Dade County commissioners gave the green light to move forward with the proposed Kendall Parkway/836 highway expansion.
In a public hearing on Thursday, commissioners voted 9-4 to expand the 836 highway - particularly in the Kendall area - to help ease traffic congestion and bring some relief to commuters.
"I feel good about the vote, but this is just a step in the process," said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez. "We did not move the UDB, this just allows the project to move forward. There are still a number of hurdles it has to clear."
One hurdle will be the permitting process. Over the last several months, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority has faced pushback from organizations and residents who have concerns about the Everglades restoration, among other things.
The new Kendall Parkway extension would run north to south, commissioners said. The expressway would be located west of 167th Avenue from the Tamiami Trail to SW 136th Street. The parkway would pass through busy neighborhood thoroughfares that are often congested including Kendall Drive, Sunset and Miller.
Kendall Parkway would also include lanes for express, transit and bus service, officials said.
Area residents who attended the meeting say the Kendall Parkway will bring much-needed traffic relief.
Although many residents have complained about traffic on the 836, not everyone is in support of an extension. Critics say expanding the highway would exasperate the problem, and that more roads mean more cars.
