The Florida Department of Transportation is set to make significant changes to the traffic flow on two crucial bridges connecting the barrier island to the Vero mainland. Monte Falls, the Vero Beach city manager, has announced that the 17th Street Bridge will be closed for construction from Monday Dec. 9 through Friday Dec. 13. Another construction project at the Indian River Boulevard and Merrill P. Barber Bridge intersection is scheduled to begin in January. A traffic sign along Beachland Boulevard, which leads to the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, indicates that road work starts on Jan. 6, 2025. Falls clarified that this sign pertains to the work on Indian River Boulevard. Matthew Mitts, the public works director for Vero Beach, stated that the Barber Bridge will not close for this construction project.

Recent Traffic Disruptions and Delays

In recent years, the Florida Department of Transportation has often caused traffic snarls along A1A during the season. This year, it seems they are taking things a step further by simultaneously disrupting traffic on both bridges. The 17th Street Bridge, also known as the Alma Lee Loy Bridge, was originally supposed to close starting Dec. 2 but was pushed back to Dec. 9 and then again to Jan. 6, 2025. Meanwhile, the Merrill P. Barber Bridge reconstruction project, which was scheduled to start on Dec. 6, has also been postponed and will now begin on Jan. 6. A state transportation spokesperson explained that the delay was due to Gov. Ron DeSantis giving state employees a five-day Thanksgiving Day weekend off.When the 17th Street Bridge is closed, its daily volume of 20,000 vehicles will be diverted onto the Barber Bridge. However, the Barber Bridge will also be affected at the Indian River Boulevard intersection by orange barrels and work crews. Mobile warning signs have been posted at both ends of the Barber Bridge, indicating the new start date of Jan. 6.The new Barber Bridge project involves rebuilding 0.43 miles of the western foot of the bridge at the Indian River Boulevard intersection. This includes adding turn lanes to improve safety and traffic flow. The project is expected to cost $3.7 million and is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2025, although there may be some slippage due to the late start. Ranger Construction Industries, Inc. of West Palm Beach has been awarded the contract.FDOT claims that the Barber Bridge plan to improve traffic flow and safety will be implemented in phases to minimize disruptions. Highlights of the project include extending the right-hand turn lane on Indian River Boulevard and adding a second left-hand turn lane for southbound traffic. The project also calls for replacing traffic signals and installing better lighting at pedestrian crosswalks, as this intersection is known to be dangerous for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. In the first phase, the existing curbs and gutters of the southeast corner will be removed. In the second phase, the new extended turn lane will be added to the eastbound bridge span.