The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is closing the Alma Lee Loy Bridge on Tuesday as they gear up for a five-year, $22.3 million bridge renovation project.
The Alma Lee Loy Bridge, also known as the 17th Street Bridge, will be closed on Tuesday, beginning at midnight, until 5 a.m. on Thursday. Traffic will detour over the Merrill P. Barber Bridge via State Route A1A on Hutchinson Island and Indian River Boulevard on the mainland.
Officials said motorists should plan for anticipated slowdowns.
The police department will be present, helping traffic.
"We will go out there to make sure everything is flowing correctly," said Police Department spokeswoman Kelsea Marty. "We are not anticipating hiccups. Of course, we will not know until the first day."
According to the city, an estimated 22,000 will need to be detoured from the 17th Street Bridge a day.
According to state officials, the bridge renovation is set to be completed by the summer of 2028.
The 17th Street Bridge is structurally deficient, due to crumbling concrete and exposed cables, according to FDOT. Since 2020, temporary fixes have been ongoing on the structure.
As the project commences, the bridge is expected to remain open while individual lanes close.
The renovation is expected to extend the use of the bridge by 30 years.
The closure of the bridge is for the safety of the workers who will be placing lane separators and restriping the south side of the bridge, according to FDOT.
FDOT is replacing the eastern 400 feet of the bridge, sealing the deck surface and upgrading signs and pavement markings.
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Source: PalmBeachPost.com
