Roads…. where we’re going… we don’t need roads….

The problem for the Marlins, is that in getting a new stadium built, they do need new roads.

The Herald yesterday noted that the Marlins are on the verge of getting the $50 million the County ear-marked for renovations on the Orange Bowl.

”There’s universal agreement that if we’re able to keep the franchise in South Florida, we now have a site that’s going to be absolutely vacant, and that has to be demolished,” County Manager George Burgess told advisory council members Monday in reference to the Orange Bowl site. “That is the only reasonable site we have to work with.”

The team has said time and time again that they have no interest in the Orange Bowl site. The team wants the parcel of land next to the government building downtown. Now there is a second hurdle… roads.

We all know how much fun road construction is in Miami. I think the expansion of 836 is constantly on-going. Well, for a new Marlins stadium to be a reality, get ready for some more neverending contstruction.

Tack about $12 million on to that bill, consulting firm HNTB Corporation told Miami and Marlins officials in a draft traffic study.
   It identifies four problem intersections: Northwest 12th Avenue at Northwest 12th Street; Northwest 12th Avenue at Northwest Seventh Street; Northwest 12th Avenue at West Flagler Street; and Northwest 17th Avenue at Northwest Seventh Street.
   A $7.8 million reversible one-way lane system around the site managed by “special event electronic lane control” is the firm’s “keystone” recommendation for easing expected traffic.

Oh, since that $50 million was so easy to come by, I’m sure an extra $12 will be cake. And I like how we’re already getting cost overruns with a Dade County project BEFORE it has been approved. I can’t wait for this debocale. As much as I want a new stadium for the marlins, I see this thing taking 10 years and costing about $1 billion when its all through. The sad thing is, I’m probably right. Hey, at least we’ll always have that conceptual artwork.