Drivers and cyclists in downtown Miami say repeated openings of the Brickell Avenue Bridge during rush hour are creating major traffic headaches on both sides of the Miami River.  

“It’s a headache for sure,” downtown resident Cameron Beal said.  

According to signage from the Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge is not supposed to open during weekday morning and evening rush hours from 7:35 a.m. to 8:59 a.m. and from 4:35 p.m. to 5:59 p.m. The bridge also remains closed to marine traffic from 12:05 p.m. to 12:59 p.m. Monday through Friday.  

Outside of those restricted periods, the bridge is scheduled to open every hour at 30 minutes past the hour, according to FDOT signage.  

Still, residents on both sides of the river told CBS News Miami they have seen the bridge rise during restricted times, leading to backups that can last between 20 and 40 minutes.  

“It adds 30 to 45 minutes to our commute,” said Jose Perraza, who lives downtown with his wife.  

Perraza said the couple often uses bicycles to avoid vehicle traffic, but even then they still find themselves waiting to cross the river.

“The bridge goes up, so we’ll rush to another,” Perraza said. “It’s just a mission to have to wait so long. Mind you, the bridge is up all the time. The boats will just pass and pass and pass. It never seems to come down. It’ll come down for two minutes then right back up.”  

Software engineer Ihor Karas noticed the same pattern and decided to track bridge activity himself. He created IsBridgeUP.com, a website that uses state traffic data and bridge camera feeds to alert users in real time when the Brickell Avenue Bridge is open.  

“Every time I need to go across the bridge, I feel like it’s going up,” Beal said.  

Karas said data collected over the past month showed multiple bridge openings during restricted rush hour periods. He hopes the information can help city leaders better understand the traffic impact.

“I will show the website to city government and show the real problem,” Karas said.  

The Florida Department of Transportation owns the bridge and controls its day-to-day operation on site. CBS News Miami said it called and messaged FDOT for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.  

The U.S. Coast Guard, which oversees bridge operations, said federal regulations require the bridge to open for certain exempt vessels even during restricted hours.  

In a statement to CBS News Miami, the Coast Guard said:

“Governed by federal drawbridge regulations 33 CFR 117.305(a) and (d), the Brickell Avenue Bridge on the Miami River operates under specific scheduling restrictions. While restricted during set weekday hours, the bridge must open at any time for exempt vessels, including public U.S. vessels, tugs, tows, and vessels facing emergency situations where delay poses a threat to life or property. To ensure navigation safety and structural integrity, the U.S. Coast Guard requires the bridge to open for these exempt vessels even during designated closure periods. The bridge owner, Florida Department of Transportation, has the responsibility to ensure the drawbridge operates in accordance with federal drawbridge regulations. Additional questions may be directed to FDOT.”

“The Coast Guard will investigate any complaints regarding compliance to determine if a violation occurred,” the agency said.  

Two active wildfires burning in Broward and Miami-Dade counties are reducing air quality and visibility across parts of South Florida Monday as firefighters continue working to contain the flames, according to the Florida Forest Service and other state and local agencies.

The fires are highlighted on Florida’s Active Wildfire Points map, an interactive tool that tracks current wildfires across the state and provides updated information on acreage burned and containment levels. You can check it out here:

Max Road Fire in Broward

The largest blaze, known as the Max Road Fire, was burning west of U.S. 27 and Pines Boulevard in western Broward County. Officials said the fire has scorched at least 5,000 acres as of Monday morning.

Smoke from the Max Road Fire was drifting north and northwest Monday morning due to a light southeast breeze.

Florida City fire in Miami-Dade

A second wildfire, called the 172nd Avenue Fire, is burning near Florida City in southern Miami-Dade County. Officials said the fire has burned at least 210 acres as of Monday morning.

Smoke from that fire remained relatively stagnant because of calm winds, though conditions later Monday could push smoke northward toward Leisure City and Homestead.

The 172nd Avenue Fire temporarily forced the closure of Card Sound Road and restricted access to the Florida Keys over the weekend, though the roadway has since reopened.

Authorities are still urging drivers to use caution in the area because heavy smoke could continue reducing visibility. Residents across South Florida are also being advised to monitor local air quality conditions as firefighters work to bring both blazes under control.

Florida dry season fuels wildfire risk

Florida is currently in its dry season, a period that typically runs from October through May and brings an increased risk of wildfires across the state.

According to the Florida Forest Service, peak wildfire season usually occurs during April, May and June, when dry vegetation, low humidity and windy conditions can help fires spread quickly.

The National Weather Service said ongoing drought conditions and low relative humidity have elevated wildfire danger across much of Florida in recent weeks. Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and remain alert as firefighters continue battling dozens of active wildfires statewide.

The Miami Dolphins are in the middle of a rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. This offseason, Sullivan cut ties with players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and then traded away Jaylen Waddle.

Moreover, the team brought in former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis, drafted Kadyn Proctor in Round 1, and selected several pass catchers to help their new signal-caller. Miami also drafted Jacob Rodriguez to be their leader on that side of the football, potentially.

While there’s still more work to be done, Sullivan has laid the foundation for what he hopes will turn the Dolphins into a contender in the AFC. Nonetheless, one person who is fully on board with what Miami has done this offseason is former Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.

“I love the [Proctor] pick,” Landry said in a May video from “4th And South.“ Miami Dolphins, the GM, hey, he’s doing amazing. He is doing amazing. I’m excited to see how [the Proctor pick] works out. Malik Willis will get some protection up front. I still want to see them add more firepower on the edges, maybe even at tight end, and keep building.

“They added pieces on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, including a couple of cornerbacks and safeties and things like that. But I would love to see them get Malik Willis a couple more weapons on the outside to do his thing [as] Jaylen Waddle left [and] Tyreek left.“

Jarvis Landry Excited About Miami’s Future

Moreover, Landry provided an exciting outlook for Miami under Sullivan as the general manager is only getting started in molding the Dolphins in his vision, especially with the draft capital that the team had in this past draft.

“I think the city of Miami is excited,” Landry added. “With all of these draft picks and the draft capital Miami acquired, and don’t forget, they traded back and got more value and more picks [in this past draft]. I think they’re the only team to have this many picks in this year’s draft, which is probably a record.“

Dolphins Were Reportedly Looking at a Veteran Wideout

While Landry would like for the Dolphins to add another receiver, they were reportedly trying to do that. On May 8, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Miami was one of the teams interested in signing Jauan Jennings before he made his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.

“The interesting thing is I was told that there were a few other teams,” Schefter said during a May 8 appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I can go back and get the exact list. I think it was the Dolphins, the Commanders. There was somebody else that was interested.

“The Vikings were the only team, I believe he wound up visiting at all. That was the only one. The other teams, the Chiefs and Commanders also were interested in Jauan Jennings. New Orleans also expressed a little interest.”

Now, for the Dolphins, it will be interesting to see whether they look at other veteran wideouts who might be a good fit, especially as a mentor for the group.

Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo