Broward County launches scour protection projects on three Fort Lauderdale bascule bridges
Broward County, Florida – Work is now going on to strengthen three important bascule bridges in Fort Lauderdale. On Tuesday, September 16, Broward County’s Public Works Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division started a series of scour protection operations along the New River. These projects will focus on the SW 4th Avenue Bridge, SE 3rd Avenue Bridge, and Andrews Avenue Bridge.
The goal of the work is to make the riverbed around the bridge foundations more stable. Crews are putting in materials that will slow down erosion and make buildings stronger that state inspectors said were at risk of being scoured. These procedures are meant to make the bridges last longer and keep people who use them every day safe.
The construction is planned to last until September 2026, however this could change if the weather or other problems arise. As the work goes on, drivers should expect lane closures on the roads that lead to the bridge on both sides of the river. There will be flaggers to help cars get through the affected zones. Marine traffic, on the other hand, is only expected to be affected a little bit.
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County authorities said that the project needed a lot of cooperation with federal, state, and local partners to meet environmental and regulatory standards. One of the main things to think about when making plans was how to keep the river environment safe while also making sure the public was safe.
Part of the money for the renovation comes from a $3 million grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Resilient Florida Program. Broward County is giving money to match the rest of the costs.
Residents or businesses that want to know what’s going on or have particular questions should call the Highway and Bridge Maintenance Division at (954) 357-6040. You can also reach Project Manager John Low at 954-579-2459 or by email at [email protected].
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Officials stated that even while the work may be inconvenient in the short term, upgrading the foundations of these widely utilized bridges is an important step to keep crossings over the New River secure and reliable for many years to come.
