Construction brings major lane shift to Broward Boulevard

FORT LAUDERDALE — Drivers face an imminent lane change on busy Broward Boulevard as construction continues on the aging bridge over the North Fork of the New River.

Three westbound lanes of traffic, between Northwest 15th and 18th avenues, will shift north to a temporary metal bridge within a week, said Dayana Diaz, with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Each lane will be about one foot narrower than existing lanes, further squeezing the often congested roadway.

“We are expecting the shift overnight next Wednesday, weather permitting,” Diaz said. “The alternate date will be Thursday night.”

The metal bridge will have a layer of asphalt to reduce the anticipated rumbling noise associated with vehicles crossing steel spans.

When the temporary bridge opens, construction crews will begin work on the westbound lanes of the existing bridge.

Eastbound Broward Boulevard will remain open to traffic until the westbound lanes are rebuilt. Then eastbound traffic will shift to those new westbound lanes so work can be done on them.

When completed by the summer of 2018, the new bridge should be about three feet higher than the current one, allowing for some larger boats to pass under it.

Crews are replacing a water main that crosses the river and will build a concrete walkway under the west side of the bridge.

The walkway could become a launch point for kayaks, or connect to a future path along the river. It could also be used as a safer way to cross Broward Boulevard for North Fork Elementary and Stranahan High School students.

The bridge is part of a $16.2 million project to improve Broward Boulevard between Interstate 95 and Federal Highway.

Other Broward Boulevard im-

provements include road widening and repaving to make room for 4-foot marked bike lanes in each direction.

Traffic lights strung on wires between concrete poles will be replaced with new signals on mast arms. There will be extra roadway lighting, upgraded drainage and improved crosswalk ramps too.