Regalado unveils new Rickenbacker concept: part park, part elevated expressway

Key Biscayne Independent, May 7, 2025

This article introduces “The Shoreline,” a proposal to redesign the Rickenbacker Causeway by elevating vehicle traffic over Virginia Key and reclaiming ground-level space for parks, beaches, and pedestrian and cycling paths. The plan is presented as a transformative alternative to incremental road widening, though major questions about cost, funding, and feasibility remain unresolved.

Key points and arguments:

• The proposal elevates traffic to free space for public parks and beaches.

• Aims to reduce congestion while improving public access and resilience.

• Draws inspiration from projects like Miami’s Underline.

• Estimated costs include $175–$200 million for the viaduct plus a new Bear Cut Bridge.

• Funding sources remain uncertain, though privatization was explicitly rejected.

• Supporters see it as transformative; skeptics cite past failed mega-projects.