New US-1 Bridge in Jupiter, Florida
The Highway US-1 Bridge replacement in Jupiter is well under way, with a completion date coming in 2026. The 5-year project got underway in October of 2021 with improvements to the surrounding roads that would need to accommodate increased traffic during the 20-month total closure. Significant improvements to manage the flow of traffic and technology infrastructure have been completed at the intersections of Alternate A1A/Old Dixie Highway, US-1/Beach Road, Alternate A1A/Indiantown Road (SR 706), and US-1/Indiantown Road (SR 706).
The demolition phase included not only the prior bridge that was constructed in 1958, but the removal of piers from an earlier bridge as well to improve the water flow through the inlet, thus improving the ecosystem. The total number of piers was reduced from nineteen down to only four. Another environmental improvement is the addition of a runoff water management system which channels water from the bridge through an advanced filtration system before it is routed into the Loxahatchee River.
The total project cost is estimated to be $122,000,000, plus a bonus structure from the FDOT of up to $6,000,0000 for on-time or early completion. The bridge closed to traffic in March of 2023 with all lanes expected to reopen by Fall of 2025. Two lanes will be opened to vehicle traffic in November of 2024, with the additional two vehicle lanes opening in the Spring of 2025. In addition to the four vehicle traffic lanes, the new bridge will feature two 8-foot wide pedestrian sidewalks and two 7-foot wide bike lanes.
Benefits of the new US-1 bridge in Jupiter go beyond aesthetics and benefits for motor vehicles. Boaters will be thrilled with the greatly increased clearances of the new design. The old bridge featured 25-foot clearance in the center and 21-foot clearance at the fenders, along with 90-feet between the fenders. The new bridge increases these clearances significantly to 42-feet at the center, 38-feet at the fenders, and 125-feet between the fenders. These improvements are expected to reduce openings by 44% compared to the old bridge.
Our new bridge is sure to enhance not only the outdoor focused lifestyle of Jupiter residents, but beautify the iconic views we get to enjoy of the Jupiter Lighthouse, inlet, and surrounding area.
