The Donald Ross Road bridge was expected to open to traffic yesterday evening but additional safety issues were encountered that prevented this from occurring. The contractor assigned to the bridge has been diligently working to ensure its safe and efficient opening to traffic. Troubleshooting continued late into the evening of April 29th through the early hours of April 30th but were unfortunately unable to safely open the bridge to vehicular traffic. There is currently an issue with the high-pressure hydraulics responsible for bridge movement. Promptly responding to this critical concern, the hydraulic unit manufacturer has mobilized a team that will arrive on-site within the hour to assist in diagnosing and resolving the malfunction.
As previously mentioned, Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works (EPW) staff initially investigated maintaining two-way traffic on half of the bridge but found that there was not adequate space to transition traffic back to the correct side before or after the bridge. The necessary rehabilitation of the Donald Ross Road bridge hydraulics and control units and their associated specialized components is vital for the bridge's daily continued operation. The closure on the westbound side of Donald Ross Road is still scheduled to begin on Thursday, May 9, 2024.
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.