No cars, bikes or pedestrians can cross the East Las Olas Boulevard bridge from 8 p.m. Nov. 15 to 6 a.m. Nov. 20. FDOT's detours, and what changes after.

The East Las Olas Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway will close to all through traffic for almost five days later this month. The closure runs from 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, to 6 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20.

No one can cross during that time: not drivers, not cyclists and not people on foot. The Florida Department of Transportation announced the closure in a full closure notice (PDF) for its bridge rehabilitation project.

It is the bridge that carries Las Olas Boulevard straight onto the central beach at A1A.

The detours

FDOT will post detour signs. Its notice sets these routes:

  • Eastbound, to the beach: U.S. 1/Federal Highway, then East Sunrise Boulevard, then A1A.
  • Westbound, from the beach: A1A, then East Sunrise Boulevard, then U.S. 1/Federal Highway.
  • Alternative route: the 17th Street Causeway bridge, FDOT said.
  • Walking and cycling: pedestrians and bicyclists will be detoured as well.

Homes, businesses and emergency services on both sides of the bridge stay reachable, the department said. Boats are not affected, and the channel stays open.

The Sunrise Boulevard route has its own work going on. FDOT is rebuilding the Sunrise bridges over the Intracoastal, and both directions share the north bridge, two lanes each way, into early 2027. Our road construction and closures page has the details.

What crews will do

FDOT said the work during the closure includes:

  • removing the temporary lane dividers, barriers and railings
  • installing a new median
  • repairing and resurfacing parts of the bridge deck
  • cleaning and painting the bridge joints
  • replacing signs and pavement markings
  • adjusting the bridge gates and traffic signals

When the work is done, the bridge reopens with two lanes in each direction on the new deck, the notice said. The bridge has carried one lane each way during the project.

FDOT said construction schedules can change because of weather or other conditions.

The wider project

The closure is one stage of a bridge rehabilitation that began in May 2026. FDOT lists these details on its project page:

Item Detail
Estimated construction cost $14,053,215
Contractor Seacoast Inc.
Started May 2026
Expected completion Summer 2027

The project replaces the old deck with a solid aluminum surface and paints the structural steel. It also replaces the electrical parts and wiring, and the mechanical span locks that join the two halves of the drawbridge when it is down. The fenders in the waterway are being replaced, including their timber piles, and the bridge tender house is being renovated.

What it means for you

  • Plan beach trips around the dates. From Sunday night, Nov. 15, until Friday morning, Nov. 20, use Sunrise Boulevard or the 17th Street Causeway to get to or from the beach.
  • Allow extra time. Both of the other routes will carry more traffic than usual, and Sunrise Boulevard is already down to one bridge. Delays grow when the drawbridges open for boats.
  • On foot or by bike, follow the detour signs. You cannot cross the bridge at all.
  • Check before you go. Dial 511 or visit FL511 for live conditions. Our getting around guide covers the rest of the trip.
  • Questions go to the project’s community outreach line, 754-444-0093, listed on the FDOT notice.