The Torry Island Swing Bridge at Lake Okeechobee will be fully closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic from 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, until 5 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, Palm Beach County officials said. Only emergency vehicles will be allowed across. Law enforcement will be on site to redirect other traffic.
The closure was needed after crews found additional work on structural steel components on the bridge surface. Palm Beach County’s Engineering and Public Works Department said the location of those components and the equipment required meant the bridge had to be shut down temporarily. Officials chose a single nine-hour closure to avoid several nighttime shutdowns.
Once the bridge reopens, vehicles will be allowed to cross, with only brief, intermittent closures for the rest of the project. Boats that need more than 11 feet of clearance must use the Route 1 (Open Lake) detour. Smaller vessels can still pass under the bridge, but should proceed with caution.
The bridge is expected to fully reopen Tuesday, Dec. 22. The county noted that the bridge is the only roadway access to Torry Island and asked for public patience. Questions can be directed to Lady Hereford, the department’s public information services manager, at (561) 684-4044.
