By Larry Barszewski
The George Bush Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway is closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic until July 20 so that essential deck repairs can be made.
The closure, which started June 1, is not expected to affect maritime traffic on the Intracoastal.
The recommended detour for travelers seeking to cross the Intracoastal in the area is to use the nearest bridge, on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach to the south, either via Federal Highway or State Road A1A. The next bridge to the north is on Woolbright Road in Boynton Beach.
Officials said the needed work had been anticipated on the bridge, which was built in 1949. Temporary measures were implemented to keep the bridge operating safely until the current work started and the bridge was closed to traffic.
Palm Beach County Engineering and Public Works, which is overseeing the maintenance work, considered alternatives to the complete shutdown, but officials said they found no ability to safely reopen the bridge at any time while the work is being done.
The closure may provide a taste of things to come. The county is currently studying what to do with the 77-year-old bascule bridge, which “has surpassed its useful life and is considered functionally obsolete due to the substandard roadway width,” according to the county’s description of the study.
Public hearings on the study are anticipated in 2028, with the study’s expected completion targeted for 2029. A wider or taller bridge could impact access to nearby streets and properties.
“Palm Beach County is considering repair, rehabilitation, and replacement alternatives to improve the bridge’s capacity, reliability, and overall safety while maintaining its critical role as a designated hurricane evacuation route,” according to the project’s online site. “Alternatives include a new bascule bridge with enhanced facilities for vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users, designed in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requirements. Wider shoulders, sidewalks separated by raised barriers, and traffic operation enhancements along the corridor will also be evaluated as part of the study.”
The bridge closed for a week in 2025 for an earlier round of essential repairs, and the aging structure was shut down for repairs for almost two months in 2022 after it stopped working because of damage to a main shaft and gear system.
Bridge replacement costs have likely risen since a 2024 county study put a $75 million estimate on the design and construction of a new bridge — which itself was up from a $45 million estimate in 2022.
Information about the current study is available at georgebushblvdbridge.com.
Anyone with questions about the study, or wanting to be added to the project mailing list, can contact Michael Sileno, the consultant project manager, at 954-495-0566, or by email at msileno@hardestyhanover.com.
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