New shortcut to reach Fort Lauderdale beach: Here’s the latest on plans for bypass road

A planned new shortcut for commuters to get to Fort Lauderdale beach has seen significant progress, with Broward County estimating that the work is about 25% complete so far.

Construction began on May 1 on the $55 million, mile-long bypass road, which will let drivers near Port Everglades get from U.S. 1 to Southeast 17th Street, on their way toward Fort Lauderdale beach.

The bypass road also will allow people to make their drive without being held up at Port Everglades security checkpoints when that isn’t the intended destination.

The Port Everglades Bypass Road will have one lane in each direction and runs along Spangler Boulevard/east State Road 84 from east of U.S. 1 to Eisenhower Boulevard. It then turns north along Eisenhower Boulevard to Southeast 20th Street, all within Port Everglades.

The idea is to improve traffic flow and access to the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and its new hotel, both currently under construction. The project includes a new two-lane road with security fencing, new security checkpoints, and a bridge with a barrier wall. A section of 1,300 feet will be elevated by 36 feet at the bridge’s highest point for cars.

“I’m very pleased progress is coming along because this is something we have promised to the city of Fort Lauderdale, something we have promised to the business community and the residents of Fort Lauderdale,” said County Commissioner Steve Geller. “It’s something that is very good for the county.”

Broward County spokesman Gregory Meyer said the contractor has completed most of the utility work associated with the project, as well as a significant amount of the drainage work along Spangler Boulevard. Conduits for fiber optic communications have been installed as have the piles for the bridge foundations.

“It is anticipated that by the end of this year, the contractor will complete the bridge foundations and significant progress will be made on the bridge piers and columns,” Meyer said in an email.

Broward’s beach bypass road is scheduled to open to traffic as early as October 2025.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com . Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash