Drivers in downtown West Palm Beach will face delays over the next few weeks as construction crews work along the waterfront.
Northbound lanes of Flagler Drive will be closed between Diana Place and Okeechobee Boulevard until October 10. The same section will be reduced to only one lane heading southbound during that time.
Crews are working on installing underground utilities for The Bristol, a luxury condominium tower being built on the waterfront.
West Palm Beach city officials say the construction was planned to end before the start of season, to avoid worse congestion. They say construction could wrap up earlier than expected if the weather is good.
Crews are handling the installation of water lines as well as utility lines for FPL and AT&T. The goal is to finish all three tasks at once so construction crews don't have to block off any traffic again as they complete the condo tower.
"It's growing pains," said West Palm Beach Assistant City Administrator Scott Kelly. "There's a lot of new construction coming, so this isn't the first time that we'll see this type of disruption, and it won't be the last time. But what we try to do is minimize that disruption by doing the best kind of planning."