High Tides Flood Low-Lying Miami Beach Road
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Residents of some sections of Miami Beach must be saying to themselves 'Here we go again'."
Thursday night and Friday morning water rose higher than expected during the seasonal high tide, spilling sea water onto Indian Creek Drive and Collins Avenue. The southbound lanes of Indian Creek at 41st Street were closed to traffic around 6 p.m. Thursday after the water made it impassable.
Weather officials said the tide rose more than a foot higher than was predicted, and this flooding came as a surprise, unlike the "king" tide of late September that was much more severe and went on for four days.
The worst of the flooding is on Collins and Indian Creek, both state-owned roads, and Miami Beach's mayor said the state needs to do something about it.
"They have to realize that sea rise is here to stay," said Mayor Philip Levine of the state's department of transportation. "They must get involved to take care of their roads. It's causing a real challenge for us down here."
Miami Beach has installed "super" pumps that have eliminated flooding on major roadways like Alton Road and West Avenue, but the state has not followed suit.
A coastal flood advisory is in effect for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach until 2 p.m. Sunday.