Interstates clear; smaller roads can be hazardous

If you are driving today, the good news is the interstates are mostly clear of debris.

But not so other roads.

In Palm Beach County, State Road 80 was closed in both directions at the 20-mile bend until further notice.

Hollywood police late Monday morning were turning away dozen of cars trying to use the Sheridan much with Street bridge to get to the beach. They said there were too many downed power lines.

Broward Mayor Barbara Sharief said people should “stay away” from areas around the Intracoastal Waterway because of heavy damage in some adjacent areas.

Local roads congested by FPL crews could become routine.

More than 2 million homes and businesses lost electricity as a result of storm, and fully restoring power is weeks.

Palm Beach International Airport opened at noon Monday. Fort Lauderdale International Airport expects to open Tuesday at 4 a.m.

There will be no passenger flights Monday at Miami International Airport; a decision about Tuesday will be made after a damage assessment. Many flights will still be canceled.

In Broward, crews removed large trees from the northbound lanes of Interstate expected to take 95 near Hollywood Boulevard and the northbound entrance ramp from I-95 to Interstate 595.

For those coming home after evacuating: the message Monday morning was simple: Take your time going home.

“Wait in place before starting to head back to South Florida,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Mark Wysocky said.

“Once you get off the interstate, obviously there’s a lot of area without power.”