FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation says it has begun working on a $8.3 million project to repair a section of State Road A1A, which was damaged during Hurricane Sandy in October and due to storms over Thanksgiving weekend in November.
FDOT said the project will take place between NE 14th Court and NE 18th Street on Fort Lauderdale Beach, north of Sunrise Boulevard. They said A1A will remain open during construction in its current configuration, but the work area will be off-limits to beachgoers and pedestrians.
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After the storms, concerned residents demanded a long-term solution to erosion on the state road. The problem began when Sandy churned off shore in late October and sent powerful waves mainland. Water crashed into four blocks, taking sand, sidewalks and the street in a 2,400 square foot stretch.
FDOT said they anticipate that work will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Over the next two weeks, FDOT said crews will bring in equipment and remove sections of the concrete wall and sidewalk, located north and south of their "orange fence" area. By the time the concrete cleanup is finished, they anticipate the state Department of Environmental Protection will issue permits to work in the beach area.
To help stabilize the road, FDOT said it plans to install sheet pile along the eastern edge of the damaged portion of A1A. The deliver of this sheet pile is expected in mid-February.
FDOT said once the restoration is completed, the roadway will be restriped to include one northbound lane, one southbound lane and a center left-turn lane along the northbound bike lane.
In addition, the sidewalk, bike lane and parallel parking will remain on the west side of A1A, according to FDOT. The east side of the road will be re-opened to beach-goers and pedestrians.