Efforts are underway to restore and expand the U.S. Route 1 bridge over the Earman River in North Palm Beach, Fla. following a partial collapse that occurred in 2017.
The incident, caused by the failure of two post-tension cables, resulted in a section of sidewalk and railing plunging into the canal below.
At the time, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) declared an emergency to expedite repairs of the 83,000-pound section of the bridge sidewalk and barrier that collapsed. While no one was hurt in the collapse, the sudden structural failure raised concerns about the overall condition of the bridge, which was originally built in 1956 and rebuilt in 2003.
The structural failure highlighted the aging infrastructure of the bridge, and was deemed “functionally obsolete” by FDOT, meaning it no longer met modern design standards.
Despite this designation, the bridge was not considered inherently dangerous.
The upcoming restoration and expansion plan will include widening the structure and raising its elevation to improve boat traffic. The project will also introduce dedicated bike lanes and a second right-turn lane from southbound U.S. 1 onto Northlake Boulevard.
The expanded bridge is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2027.
Source: The Palm Beach Post, CBS12.com
