Interchanges delayed until early in 2018

BOYNTON BEACH — Construction meant to improve the Interstate 95 interchanges at Woolbright and Hypoluxo roads is taking longer than expected and will continue through the beginning of next year.

While disappointing for drivers, the extension is not a surprise. In August, Florida Department of Transportation officials indicated work would continue through November, but said it could be longer because of weather and holidays. That was before Hurricane Irma, and before its rains and other storms eroded the soil under the road at the Woolbright interchange. The erosion caused an emergency closure that has since been repaired.

Woolbright has been under construction since January 2016, and Hypoluxo since June 2015.Drivers at the Hypoluxo ramp in the afternoon might be experiencing heavy traffic. Workers have been installing lighting components, FDOT spokeswoman Andi Pacini said. But any lane closures on the interstate, Woolbright and Hypoluxo, and on the ramps, are restricted to nights.

At the Woolbright site, workers are widening the road from Southwest 18th Street to Southwest Second Street to provide dual eastbound left turn lanes onto northbound I-95. Work also includes widening the I-95 northbound entrance ramp to receive the dual eastbound left turn lanes, and reconstructing the southbound exit ramp to provide a free-flow right turn onto westbound Woolbright.

The Hypoluxo project involves reconfiguring the existing Hypoluxo roadway approaches and bridges over I-95 and the CSX railroad tracks, building dual eastbound left turn lanes onto I-95 and widening the existing southbound exit ramp to lengthen the turn lanes.

Other projects are at Donald Ross Road in Jupiter, 10th Avenue North in Lake Worth and Southwest 10th Street in Broward County.