The Florida Department of Transportation recently launched major improvement projects on two segments of State Road A1A/South Ocean Boulevard.
The construction is divided into two project areas. One is South Ocean Boulevard from north of Emerald Beach Way (a road that is just south of the Bath & Tennis Club) northward to Royal Palm Way.
The other area is in Palm Beach’s South End, on South Ocean Boulevard from Lake Avenue (Lake Worth Bridge) in Lake Worth Beach northward to north of Ibis Way.
Construction began this May and is not expected to reach completion until late 2026, the DOT said.
It includes milling and repaving the project areas of South Ocean Boulevard, replacing traffic signals with mast arms at some locations, upgrading pedestrian signals with new LED countdowns, lighting and drainage upgrades, and more.
This DOT work coincides with the reconstruction of the town-owned Phipps Ocean Park at the northern edge of the DOT’s South End project. The 18-acre oceanfront park closed May 1 for a $31 million makeover expected to take 15 to 18 months to complete.
“It is going to be a major construction site for at least a year,” said Town Councilman Lew Crampton, who lives in the South End. “It is going to be a problem for us to navigate, particularly during the season.”
$5.9 million
In the South End, the DOT is spending $5.9 million on construction that spans a nearly 2.1-mile stretch of South Ocean Boulevard from south of Lake Avenue in the City of Lake Worth Beach to just north of Palm Beach’s Ibis Way.
It includes widening the road from two feet to five feet in each direction to accommodate new five-foot bicycle lanes in each direction.
South End residents and Palm Beach officials strongly objected to the designation of the bicycle lanes, which they said would present a safety hazard and slow down traffic on the already congested roadway. Crampton said the bicyclists are supposed to ride in a single file to minimize disruptions to vehicular traffic, but “they don’t do that.”
The DOT refused to strip the bicycle lanes from the design, saying they will improve safety while making the road more accessible to bicyclists.
Construction began May 3 and is being performed by The Stout Group LLC.
In addition to milling and resurfacing the road, and widening the road and designating the bicycle lanes, the scope of the project includes:
+ Upgrading pedestrian signals, including new LED countdowns at A1A and Lake Avenue to enhance pedestrian accessibility.
+ Installing a new traffic signal mast arm at the Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course and a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at Phipps Ocean Park to alert drivers to a new pedestrian crosswalk that will be built there as part of the park’s redesign.
+ Removing the asphalt sidewalk on the west side of A1A and replacing it with a concrete sidewalk.
+ Regrading swales to improve drainage and upgrading curb ramps, signage and pavement markings, including installing green bicycle markings at A1A and Lake Avenue to enhance visibility and safety.
Construction work will occur in phases to minimize impacts to the public, FDOT Project Manager Ricky Estripeaut said. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times.
Daytime lane closures can be expected Monday through Friday, with night work permitted within 800 feet of A1A and Lake Avenue, Monday through Friday.
Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic as needed. Sidewalks will be closed as needed, with pedestrian detours provided.
Town Manager Kirk Blouin said the milling and repaving and drainage improvements are all positives that will benefit the town. But he said the bicycle lanes and the “sharrows,” the painted markings on the road that draw drivers’ attention to the bicycle lanes, will be unfortunate changes. The bicyclists fan out into the center of the traffic lane, slowing vehicular traffic below the minimum speed of 25 mph, he said.
But he said the DOT has the final say about the bicycle lanes.
“It is a state road,” Blouin said. “They have a right to do what they want with a state road.”
$8.3 million
The work on A1A/South Ocean Boulevard from Royal Palm Way to north of Emerald Beach Way is budgeted at $8.3 million. Work began May 27 on the project, which spans 2.3 miles. The contractor is Halley Engineering Contractors.
It includes:
+ Milling and repaving the road throughout the project limits, including an additional layer of asphalt tween Brazilian Avenue and Royal Palm Way, to enhance resilience and improve safety.
+ Replacing traffic signals with decorative mast arms at Golfview Road and Hammon Avenue, Worth Avenue and Peruvian Avenue.
+ Replacing traffic signals with standard mast arms at the Central Fire Station and on Royal Palm Way to improve infrastructure resiliency and driver safety.
+ Upgrading pedestrian signals with new LED countdowns at Golfview Road/Hammon Avenue, Worth Avenue, Peruvian Avenue, and Royal Palm Way.
+ Installing drainage improvements just south of Southern Boulevard, just north of El Vedado Road, and at Royal Palm Way.
+ Upgrading roadway lighting throughout the project limits, including decorative lighting at Worth Peruvian, Chilean, Australian and Brazilian avenues.
+ Upgrading curb ramps and replacing sidewalk sections to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity.
+ Upgrading signage and pavement markings, including shared bicycle marking, to enhance visibility and safety.
The work will occur in phases to minimize impacts to the public, the DOT said. Flaggers will direct drivers past lane closures whenever needed. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times, said DOT project manager Michael Miller.
Crampton said the positives of the two big DOT construction projects outweigh the negatives. “Everyone welcomes the safety improvements,” he said.
“We are prepared to take a positive approach of watchful waiting and making sure we have the least amount of negative impact on our residents,” Crampton said.
Public presentation
FDOT representatives will provide a public presentation on the projects at the June 10 Palm Beach Town Council meeting, said Meredith Cruz, community outreach specialist for the DOT’s District 4, which includes the Treasure Coast and Palm Beach and Broward counties.
Throughout the construction, progress updates will be posted periodically to the DOT’s District Four website, d4fdot.com, Cruz said. Click on Palm Beach County, then scroll down to find information on the central portion of the county. Each project has its own webpage.
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