South Ocean Boulevard near Mar-a-Lago between South County Road and Southern Boulevard is closed to through-traffic until further notice, the Town of Palm Beach announced in a news release.
The indefinite closure occurs amid security concerns stemming from the armed conflict that began on February 28 between the United States, Israel and Iran.
The indefinite road closure went into effect at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
The road near Mar-a-Lago is closed when President Trump is in residence but normally reopens when he leaves town. But Palm Beach officials said it will now remain closed out of concern for public safety.
Procedures regarding the road closure, checkpoint, adjusted bridge opening schedules, and temporary marine security zones can be found on the town’s Planned Traffic Impacts webpage under the “Mandated South Ocean Blvd. Road Closures” dropdown, the town said.
Officials have frequently cited the road closure near Mar-a-Lago as one of several key factors contributing to a sharp rise in traffic volume during the post-Covid years. Other reasons cited for traffic congestion include intensive growth in Palm Beach County, an increase in tourism in Palm Beach related to the beaches and Mar-a-Lago sightseers, and unscheduled drawbridge openings.
Police Chief Nicholas Caristo at Tuesday’s Palm Beach Town Council meeting that the daily traffic volume in town is averaging about 44,000 vehicles per day during the winter season. Annual increases in traffic volume currently stand at around 18 percent.
But Caristo said traffic-related complaints to the Police Department are down by about 30 percent. Town Manager Kirk Blouin said the number of traffic-related complaints to his office has fallen dramatically.
“Last year it seemed like I was receiving them all day and now it is very few if any,” Blouin said.
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