Donald
Ross Road at the Bascule Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway (west of Ellison
Wilson Road) will be closed to westbound traffic starting Thursday, May 9, 2024
through Thursday, May 23, 2024 to complete required bridge maintenance. Traffic
pattern changes will include westbound right lane closures from U.S. Highway 1
and northbound left turn lane closure at Ellison Wilson Road. Traffic will be
detoured via U.S. Highway 1, PGA Boulevard and alternate A1A.
Closure
of the bridge’s westbound lanes are for the second portion of maintenance work
replacing outdated hydraulic and electrical systems within the bridge. The $5.7
million enhancement project will address outdated components, improve
operational efficiency (reduce amount of time required for opening and closing
operations) and reduce future maintenance downtime. The County’s decision to
initiate the shutdown for construction was in effort for project completion
before the start of the 2024 hurricane season while minimizing disruption to
commuters and maximizing safety.
Palm
Beach County Engineering and Public Works (EPW) staff investigated maintaining
two-way traffic on half of the bridge during the closure but found there was
not adequate space to safely transition traffic back to the correct side before
or after the bridge. EPW appreciates the community’s
patience and understanding throughout this temporary inconvenience as we work
to enhance the safety and efficiency of the County’s infrastructure.