Condition and history
The problem
About 510 feet of seawall and walkway on the north bank of the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale has been documented as deteriorating in the City’s own records since 2013. Part of the walkway collapsed and was barricaded by August 2026, and construction isn’t expected to start until summer 2027.[1, 2, 7, 13]
The City describes the project as the replacement of about 510 linear feet of seawall on the New River between Andrews Avenue and the FEC Railway, together with the pile-supported concrete walkway, which the City calls the catwalk, attached to it.[1] The City’s March 2026 grant application explains that this seawall “retains the subbase for the entire Riverwalk north business area,” so a failure would affect many neighboring businesses.[6] The site lies in City Commission District 4.[10]
The Riverwalk 9/11 Monument, dedicated by the City on September 11, 2020, stands within the project area, and the redesign approved in November 2025 includes raising it to the new grade.[9, 22]
Thirteen years in the City's own records
- 2013The Commission approved a $77,818 work order, plus $7,800 in engineering fees, to reinforce the seawall and the beams under the Riverwalk slab between Andrews Avenue and Flagler. The memo said areas next to the seawall “have settled and buckled due to erosion and migration of soil into the canal.”[2, 24]
- 2016The Commission approved up to $9,000 for a condition survey of Riverwalk North between the railway and Andrews Avenue. The survey report itself is not attached to the public record.[25]
- 2017A sinkhole opened behind the seawall just east of the Andrews Avenue Bridge. Divers found that 100 feet of canal bottom protecting the base of the wall had disappeared, with more than 10 feet of scour under and behind it. The City declared an emergency on March 7, 2017.[3, 26]
- 2019The Commission rejected both construction bids because each was about twice the engineer’s estimate. The memo said the seawall and catwalk “are structurally deficient” and that the condition “may lead to a systematic failure of the concrete catwalk which could become a public hazard.”[4]
- 2023In recommending the design contract, staff reported that City inspectors had determined this section “requires immediate replacement.”[1]
- 2025–2026The City told the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) that the catwalk slab had lost all its reinforcement to corrosion and “may be on the verge of collapse,” and that the seawall had become a public hazard.[5, 6]
- August 2026CBS News Miami reported that a portion of the walkway had collapsed and that the City had barricaded the section from Andrews Avenue west to the train bridge.[7]
In the City's own words
“Only the pile cap is believed to be holding the seawall in place, which the cap was not designed to do structurally.”
“[The condition] may lead to a systematic failure of the concrete catwalk which could become a public hazard.”
“The section of the seawall on the New River between the FEC Railway and Andrews Avenue requires immediate replacement.”
“[The catwalk ribbed slab] has lost all its reinforcement due to corrosion and can no longer sustain the original design load it was intended to support and may be on the verge of collapse.”
“[The catwalk] can no longer carry it's intended load, therefore it is a public safety hazard.”
The August 2026 failure
The City’s assistant director of public works told CBS News Miami that the old seawall allows soil beneath the pavers to escape into the river, creating holes and cavities, and that the wall is ranked second in the City’s seawall replacement plan.[7] The sources do not give the exact date of the collapse, so our report dates it to on or before August 12, 2026.[7]
The schedule and the money
Each time the City has filed for a grant, the expected finish has moved later. The projected end of construction went from January 2026 in the 2024 filing, to October 2026 in the 2025 filing, to December 2027 in the 2026 filing. The City’s September 2026 statement that construction will start in summer 2027 and take at least a year implies completion no earlier than summer 2028.[6, 7, 11, 12, 13]
The cost estimate has risen from about $8 million in the 2025 and 2026 filings to $12 million in September 2026.[12, 13, 44] The adopted FY 2027–2031 capital plan shows an unspent balance of $2,937,104, nothing new in FY 2027, FY 2028 or FY 2029, and $7,983,841 in FY 2030.[14] FIND has awarded $1,032,636 and $2,967,364, and each award requires an equal local match.[15, 16]
Documented events, 2013 to 2026
Timeline
This timeline reproduces Table 1 of our report. Dates are those shown in the cited record.
Aug. 20, 2013
Commission approves Work Order 3 ($77,818 plus $7,800 engineering) to reinforce the seawall; walk had “settled and buckled.”[2]
Oct. 18, 2016
Commission approves condition survey inspection of Riverwalk North (up to $9,000).[25]
Mar. 7, 2017
City declares emergency for undermined seawall east of Andrews Avenue; $83,404 emergency design purchase follows.[3, 26]
Nov. 28 – Dec. 7, 2018
ITB 12208-493 issued; two bids received.[4]
Mar. 19, 2019
Commission rejects all bids at about twice the estimate; catwalk called “structurally deficient.”[4, 27]
Aug. 11 – Oct. 12, 2022
RFQ 12716-626 for design consultant issued; six proposals received.[1, 28]
Dec. 5, 2023
HBC Engineering design agreement approved, $682,534.41; staff say section “requires immediate replacement.”[1, 29]
Mar. 19, 2024
Commission authorizes $3 million FIND application (total project estimated at $9 million).[11, 30]
Apr. 9, 2024
Notice to Proceed issued to HBC; completion due Dec. 5, 2024.[9]
Nov. 13, 2024 – Mar. 10, 2025
Change Orders 2, 3, and 4 add 30, 45, and 120 days; completion moves to Jun. 18, 2025.[9]
Mar. 18, 2025
Commission authorizes $4 million FIND application.[31]
Jun. 5, 2025
Marine operators raise floating-dock concerns at the Marine Advisory Board.[32]
Jun. 18, 2025
HBC agreement expires.[33]
Oct. 2025
FIND awards $1,032,636 of the $4 million requested, reduced for lack of permits.[15]
Nov. 4, 2025
First retroactive agreement and Change Order 5 approved (+$545,201.33, 250 days).[34]
Feb. 3, 2026
Commission authorizes FIND project agreement for $1,032,636.[35, 36]
Mar. 3, 2026
Apr. 9, 2026
First retroactive agreement expires.[33]
Jun. 2, 2026
Second retroactive agreement approved (240 days, to Dec. 5, 2026).[39]
Jul. 3, 2026
By Aug. 12, 2026
Walkway collapse reported; section barricaded.[7]
The barricaded section seen from above, with the brick walkway sunken and pulled away from the seawall. Photo: Nathan Stevenson, 2026 (exact date not recorded). By Aug. 28, 2026
City removes and stores part of the 9/11 Monument base.[8]
The 9/11 Monument from above, with displaced pavers and barricades along the edge of its base. Photo: Nathan Stevenson, 2026 (exact date not recorded). Sep. 11, 2026
25th-anniversary Never Forget event held in the Flow Breezeway rather than at the monument.[22, 42]
The barricaded walkway on the day of the anniversary. Photo: Nathan Stevenson, September 11, 2026. 
The Never Forget event in the Flow Breezeway. Photo: Nathan Stevenson, September 11, 2026. Sep. 14, 2026
FY 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Plan adopted.[21]
Sep. 24, 2026
FIND lists $2,967,364 award for “Riverwalk North Replacement Part 2.”[16]
Sep. 28, 2026
City tells Local 10 the fix will cost $12 million; construction expected summer 2027.[13]
Dec. 5, 2026
Current design completion date under the second retroactive agreement.[33]
The seawall, and the 25th anniversary
Photos
Nathan Stevenson took all of these photographs in 2026. The aerial views are undated within the year. The ground-level photos were taken on September 11, 2026, the day of the 25th-anniversary Never Forget event, which the Thank You First Responder Organization moved to the Flow Breezeway, next to the monument, because organizers considered the grounds too unsafe.[8, 22, 42]
Select any photo to open a larger version.
Press coverage
In the news
These are the news articles cited in our report. Each headline links to the original article.
Fort Lauderdale's collapsed Riverwalk section barricaded as seawall repairs won't start until 2027
Reports that a portion of the walkway collapsed, that the City barricaded the stretch from Andrews Avenue to the train bridge, and that the wall ranks second in the City’s replacement plan.[7]
Fort Lauderdale removed part of its 9/11 memorial base to protect it from seawall damage, weeks before 25th anniversary
Reports the City’s statement that a section of the memorial’s base was removed and is being stored, and that the memorial will be elevated as part of the seawall project.[8]
Remembering September 11th
Describes the Riverwalk 9/11 Monument and reports that the 25th-anniversary Never Forget event would be held in the Flow Breezeway rather than at the monument.[22]
Fort Lauderdale plans $12 million fix for Riverwalk woes
Reports the City’s $12 million estimate and its expectation that construction will begin in summer 2027.[13]
Fort Lauderdale Commission approves various agreements
Covers the Commission’s February 3, 2026 approval of the $1,032,636 FIND project agreement.[36]
Fort Lauderdale Commission approves major contracts
Covers the Commission’s March 3, 2026 authorization of the $2,967,364 FIND application.[38]
Fort Lauderdale commission accepts resignation of city manager
Reports that the Commission accepted the resignation of City Manager Rickelle Williams, whose separation took effect July 3, 2026.[41]
Fort Lauderdale city manager steps down after 15 months on the job
Reports that City Manager Rickelle Williams stepped down after 15 months in the job.[68]
Riverwalk north-side seawall replacement draws concerns from marine industry about floating-dock design and navigation
Summarizes the June 2025 Marine Advisory Board discussion, where City engineers presented a raised wall with a floating dock and marine operators raised concerns.[32]
Related coverage cited in the report
These articles concern the legal, political and calendar context described in our report.
Governor vetoes sovereign immunity overhaul, cites litigation concerns
Reports the veto of HB 145, which leaves Florida’s existing sovereign immunity damage caps in place.[63]
Breaking down the changes in Florida's new Congressional districts
Explains the congressional map signed in May 2026, which redrew Broward County districts.[73]
Congressman Moskowitz pivots to FL-25 seat after DeSantis shuffles redistricting map
Reports that Rep. Jared Moskowitz is running in the new District 25.[74]
Florida Lawmakers Set the 2027 Session Calendar With Committee Weeks Starting in November
Reports the 2027 legislative calendar, with the regular session convening March 2, 2027.[75]
Report details mistakes in Miami Beach flood-control project
Reports an inspector general’s conclusion that Miami Beach improperly relied on emergency declarations for a flood-control project.[62]
Real Change for the Riverwalk
Add your name to ask the City to act on its own warnings about the Riverwalk North seawall.