The goal of the City of Miami Beach is to have all roads reach 3.7′ NAVD88 to deal with flooding issues. Some roads are already this high, or higher. Some are lower and require elevation. The 3.7′ NAVD88 standard is based on minimizing potential flooding associated with tides, rainfall, and sea level rise, to around the year 2055. This estimate is based on engineering models and the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact Unified Sea Level Rise Projection.
The elevation of roads decreases the risk of flooding as the new advanced drainage systems underneath the roadways are designed to remove stormwater from the public right of way and personal property more efficiently than the old system. One example of a project is the roadway elevation in the Sunset Harbour Neighborhood which was raised by approximately 3 feet, in comparison to residential elevations which will only be raised between 0 and 24 inches.