In early August, the Florida Dept. of Transportation quietly extended—for the second time in two years—the expected completion date to 2029 for the now $866-million Miami Signature Bridge project. The schedule is now five years past the original 2024 target that the Archer Western-de Moya Joint Venture had aimed for in 2019, when it started construction on the one-of-a-kind, six-arch bridge and surrounding interstate highway reconstruction project.

The project team has found that erecting the structure is a singular construction challenge. Unlike more standard precast segmental bridges, the vast majority of the arches’ 345 precast segments are so different from each other that it was next to impossible for precaster Rizzani de Eccher to standardize their construction.

“This is the most complex design-build segmental bridge, honestly, in the world,” says Riccardo Castracani, the firm's business development director. “We’ve never encountered something of this magnitude,” he adds, referencing the company's global experience. “As complex as it looks from afar, you can multiply that by ten” when scrutinized closely.

Miami’s Signature Bridge, known as The Fountain, is entering a new phase of construction as the project’s iconic arches begin to rise above I-395, offering a first glimpse of the monumental structure set to redefine the city’s skyline. The six-arch bridge, designed as both a transportation link and architectural statement, is progressing steadily according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Once complete, it will improve traffic flow between I-95, I-395, and SR 836 while creating an iconic new visual gateway into downtown with six sweeping arches. Set to span 1,025’ over NE 2nd ave. and Biscayne Boulevard, the largest of the six-arches will reach 325’ tall and 650’ wide. Several key segments of the arches are now being installed, with full vertical completion anticipated in 2027.