PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Project Limits

I-95 from north of Southern Blvd. (SR 80)
To north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.

Purpose

Improve roadway capacity, safety and efficiency.

Scope of Work

FDOT is widening I-95 from six lanes to ten lanes along this section, a length of approximately 4.23 miles. The work includes replacing the existing bridge over Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., replacing the existing overpass bridges on Congress Avenue and Australian Avenue, and modification of the mainline ramps.  The project will also include drainage improvements, retaining walls, signing and pavement marking, lighting, irrigation, sound walls, and communications elements.

Construction Timeline

Begin Construction: January 2005
End Construction: July 2009

Maintenance of Traffic

Lane closures on I-95 will only occur at night when traffic volumes are lighter. Three thru lanes will be maintained at all times from 5:30 am to 8:00 pm.  I-95 will be closed to traffic from 9:00 pm to 5:30 am for certain operations for the construction of the Australian Avenue and Congress Avenue bridges.  These operations include demolition, setting of beams, and deck pours. Also there will be a ramp closure at the eastbound to northbound Okeechobee ramp. This ramp will be closed for a period of 25 days as the ramp is reconstructed. Advance warning of ramp work will be provided.

Construction Phasing

 

Phase I

 

I-95 will be milled and resurfaced and outside shoulder slope correction will be completed.

 

Phase IA

 

I-95 traffic will be shifted towards the outside of the existing roadway to accommodate the temporary road construction in the median.  Permanent HOV lanes will be constructed from north of Australian Avenue to south of Congress Avenue.  A temporary bridge will be constructed in the median at Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard.  Australian Avenue construction will be started in this phase, including replacement of the Australian Avenue bridge over I-95.

 

Phase II

 

North of SR 80 to south of Congress Avenue.  Construct permanent HOV lanes from SR 80 to north of Australian Avenue.  Complete Australian Avenue construction.   Congress Avenue construction will be started in this phase, including replacement of the Congress Avenue bridge over I-95.  Construct southbound widening under Congress Avenue. 

North of Congress Avenue to north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.   Southbound traffic will be diverted to the newly constructed median area as the road and bridge improvements on the southbound side of I-95 are constructed.

 

Phase III

 

North of SR 80 to north of Congress Avenue.  Place friction course and final striping and open HOV lanes to north of Okeechobee Boulevard.  Complete Congress Avenue construction.  Construct northbound widening under Congress Avenue. 

North of Congress Avenue to north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.   Northbound traffic will be diverted to the previously constructed median area as the road and bridge improvements on the northbound side of I-95 are constructed.

 

Phase IV

 

North of Okeechobee to north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.   Traffic will be shifted towards the outside as the construction of the road in the median is completed.

 

Phase V

 

North of Okeechobee to north of Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.   Place friction course and final striping.  Open all lanes to traffic including HOV lanes.

Factoids

Over 42.3 miles of temporary barrier wall will be used during construction.
Over 638 tons of rebar will be used on this project-- the same weight at 76 elephants!
Over 109,216 square yards of temporary sheet piling will be use on this project. That's the equivalent of 17 football fields.