The total closure of the 17th Street bridge, one of two main arteries connecting the barrier island to the mainland in Vero Beach, caused big traffic tie-ups and delays Monday morning at the start of the week-long project.
All traffic that normally takes the 17th Street Bridge between the southern part of the island and the mainland was diverted to the Merrill P. Barber bridge and traffic on the northbound lanes of Indian River Boulevard to get to the Barber bridge was bumper-to-bumper.
Motorists trying to get onto the northbound lanes of Indian River Boulevard from Miracle Mile or State Route 60 often had to wait two or three green traffic light cycles before they could make the turn to avoid total gridlock at the intersections during the morning rush hour.
Many motorists seemed unaware of the closure, despite the fact that it had been extensively covered in the newspapers and on social media. When they couldn’t turn onto the 17th Street Bridge from southbound Indian River Boulevard, they were forced further south until they could make a U-turn to head back up north, further adding to the backups.
The total closure of the 17th Street Bridge started Sunday night and is supposed to last until 5 a.m. Friday, April 17, while Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) crews are sealing and re-striping the road surface on the bridge.
When the bridge reopens for traffic, it is scheduled to allow traffic on the outside lanes only in both directions, while workers continue to fix the lighting, lane separators and do other miscellaneous repairs.
The five-year bridge rebuilding project was supposed to last until the summer of 2028, but there has been speculation it may finish early. The 17th Street Bridge normally carries about 22,000 vehicles a day while the Barber bridge carries about 30,000 a day. While the Barber bridge seems to be able to handle the additional traffic, the major problems appear to be with the access route to the bridge.
Motorists have been advised by the authorities to take extra time as they plan their trips to and from the island, or travel at non-rush hour times when possible.
