Andrews Avenue Bridge stairs to close May 19 as Fort Lauderdale’s Huizenga Park nears next phase

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Work on the long-awaited Huizenga Park “Reimagined” and Riverwalk improvements in downtown Fort Lauderdale is entering a brief but important phase: beginning Monday, May 19, the northern flight of stairs on the Andrews Avenue Bridge will close for about three weeks to allow concrete and paver crews to finish their work. Although the Riverwalk pedestrian path will remain available, anyone wishing to utilize the northside stairs of the bridge to connect to the waterfront walkway will have to look for another route until Friday, June 6.

This closure marks the most recent turning point in a project started in summer 2024 when the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority teamed up with MBR Construction, Inc. and design partner KEITH to provide Huizenga Park a new, more accessible layout.

Crews have completed the underground utility work and advanced with grading the park’s new contours, all while putting the foundation for the future toilet facility—still at its shell stage—and continuing to lay improved pavers along the Riverwalk.

Residents and visitors will see the park changing more quickly during the next sixty days. Paver installation along the seaside promenade continues through the end of May; the restroom shell will have more structural work. The Andrews Avenue Bridge stairs will reopen on June 6 just as landscapers and electricians start putting in the park’s new lighting and planting elements, so moving the Riverwalk nearer to its grand unveiling.

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While the stairway is off-limits, those walking down busy streets should pay attention to any temporary traffic changes. The sidewalk along SE 1st Avenue will remain closed, so channeling foot traffic onto a safeguarded, temporary path running across the core of Huizenga Park.

Drivers on Las Olas Boulevard will notice one lane closed in the same time period, so they are advised to expect little delays or think about using other roads.

Though they may be inconvenient in the near term, these methodically timed closures are essential in order to provide a smooth transition from construction zone to lively urban oasis.

Just in time to see the last touches on lighting, landscaping, and park amenities that promise to make Huizenga Park and the neighboring Riverwalk a genuine centerpiece of Fort Lauderdale’s waterfront, shoppers and sightseers alike will once again have full access to the Andrews Avenue Bridge stairs—now with new pavers and fresh concrete.

Everyone can track the progress of the construction on this link.