The Florida Department of Transportation is working to fix a Boca Raton bridge that’s malfunctioned repeatedly over the last couple weeks.
This is the Boca Raton Inlet Bridge along A1A, just north of E. Camino Real.
According to Boca Raton police, the bridge malfunctioned on the following dates:
- Nov. 15
- Nov. 16
- Nov. 20
- Nov. 21 (Twice)
- Nov. 25
If drivers going north get stuck at the bridge, they can’t use the nearby Camino Real Bridge because it's down for construction. Instead, they have to backtrack two miles and use the Hillsboro Boulevard Bascule Bridge in Deerfield Beach.
From there, they can head west to U.S. 1, then return north from there.
"So I am talking maybe 10 miles just to go a quarter of a mile from my home here," said Bob Salley, who lives on the southwest side of the inlet bridge.
One driver recently sent WPTV photos showing the bridge shut down on Nov. 16.
COURTESY: PAIGE HUNTER
COURTESY: PAIGE HUNTER
The Florida Department of Transportation tells WPTV that its bridge contractor, Ferrovial Services, is reporting power fluctuations from the FPL transformer to the bridge.
But FPL tells WPTV that it's investigated the issue found no evidence that the malfunctions are related to power disturbances caused by FPL’s equipment.
FPL says it's "thoroughly inspected our equipment and determined that the voltage leading into the bridge is within the acceptable range."
As an additional precaution, FPL is installing power quality monitoring devices that will help detect where the issue is coming from.
"Maybe they should have a separate generator or power box," said Natalie Russo, who lives southwest of the bridge.
"I think it is a minor problem," said Salley. "It's never been a long haul situation where they had problems over the years."