WEST PALM BEACH, FL -3 MAR 2018- View of the Brightline train, a diesel-electric higher-speed rail system, at the West Palm Beach rail station in Florida, United States. Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by EQRoy
Miami-based high-speed rail service Brightline is working to bring the future to Florida transit.
But before Floridians can reap the benefits of the future, we must endure growing pains, construction, and traffic along some of the busiest highways in the state.
Later this month, Brightline’s construction on the Canaveral Groves railway bridge will force single-lane closures on north and southbound lanes along I-95 near the Beachline (State Road 528) in Central Florida. The nearest closure is set to happen as early as next week.
The bridge is the noticeable highlight of the 170-mile expansion linking West Palm Beach with the Orlando International Airport—a move that will drastically cut traffic times and conveniently transport Floridians from one point of the state to another at times half the normal rate.
As a result of the construction and beam placement activity, the following closures on the eastbound Beachline exit ramp onto southbound I-95 will close to traffic and therefore be detoured to I-95 north, to then exit at the Port St. John Parkway before regaining access to I-95 south:
- 10 p.m. June 21 to 5 a.m. June 22
- 10 p.m. June 22 to 5 a.m. June 23
- 10 p.m. June 23 to 5 a.m. June 24
Additionally, the westbound Beachline exit ramp to southbound I-95 will close to traffic on the following dates, resulting in a detour taking motorists to a quick exit at Industry Road-Clearlake Road, before accessing State Road 524 and heading west to access I-95 south:
- 10 p.m. June 26 to 5 a.m. June 27
- 10 p.m. June 28 to 5 a.m. June 29
- 10 p.m. June 29 to 5 a.m. June 30
- 10 p.m. June 30 to 5 a.m. July 1
Lastly, workers will shut down I-95 southbound at the Beachline interchange to place horizontal running steel beams above pavement, resulting in a detour taking drivers to the eastbound Beachline to Industry Road-Clearlake Road, before being able to access State Road 524 and head west to I-95 south:
- 10 p.m. June 26 to 5 a.m. June 27.
- 10 p.m. June 28 to 5 a.m. June 29.
- 10 p.m. June 29 to 5 a.m. June 30.
- 10 p.m. June 30 to 5 a.m. July 1.
Traffic information was initially reported by Florida Today.
Brightline will also be closing Melbourne Avenue under the Crane Creek railroad bridge in downtown Melbourne from 7 a.m. June 28 through 2022 for long-term bridge construction.
The expected date of completion for the expansion is set for some time in 2022.
For more stories like this, Florida Insider is your source for all things Florida. From business to nature, to sports and more, we have it all. Easy to read content at the palm of your hands and covering stories that matter.
Terry is an avid Nascar fan who grew up attending races at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, just down the road from his hometown of China Grove, NC. Terry currently resides in Wellington and has been writing for 15 years. He also enjoys watching the Road Runner Looney Tunes cartoon with his two sons in his spare time.