Alternatives 

 

Alternatives considered during the PD&E Study include the following:

 

No-Build Alternative – No improvements are proposed except for routine maintenance required to keep the bridges operational.

 

Rehabilitation Alternative – Major repairs will be made to extend the life of the bridge and bring some elements into compliance with current safety standards. 

 

Bridge Replacement Alternatives - A number of alternative bridge heights were developed and evaluated including:

65-foot Fixed Bridge

35-foot Movable Bridge

21-foot Movable Bridge

 

The 35-foot Movable and 65-foot Fixed Bridge alternatives were evaluated and determined to have substantial impacts to the community and environment.  Accordingly, only alternatives for a 21-foot Movable Bridge will be considered “viable alternatives” for further study.

 

Because the 21–foot Movable Bridge alternative was determined to be the most viable alternative with minimal impacts, a number of alternative alignments (locations) and bridge designs for a 21-foot movable bridge were developed.  Alignments considered include the following:                         

                        Construct a 21-foot Movable Bridge North of Existing Bridge

                        Construct a 21-foot Movable Bridge South of Existing Bridge

                        Construct a 21-foot Movable Bridge along the Existing Alignment

 

Two options to maintain traffic during construction of a new bridge along the existing alignment (same location as the existing bridge) are to construct a temporary detour bridge adjacent to the existing bridge, or construct the new bridge in phases.

 

No additional travel lanes are proposed; however, widening of the bridges will be required to meet current design and safety standards.  Typical sections for most proposed replacement bridge alternatives will provide one 12-foot wide travel lane in each direction and a five-foot wide designated bike lane.  Six-foot wide sidewalks will be provided on both sides of the bridge.  The total width of the proposed typical section is 57 feet.  A left turn lane from the bridge onto Flagler Drive from the bridge will also be included in all replacement alternatives to reduce backups on the bridge at peak traffic hours.

 

Some alternatives may require a wider bridge to accommodate construction methods.  These alternatives will still provide the same number and width of travel lanes, bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

 

Information about alternatives under consideration was presented at the Public Alternatives Workshop held Thursday, March 13, 2008 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.  Visit the “Public Involvement” page for

additional information about this informative workshop. 

 

 

Click Here to view the alternatives that were displayed at this meeting.