The long-awaited moment for Jupiter’s motorists and local businesses may soon arrive as preliminary safety inspections signaling the impending partial opening of the U.S. 1 bridge. According to WPTV, Jupiter Mayor Jim Kuretski indicated the possibility of one lane in each direction opening as early as Tuesday—a development eagerly anticipated after nearly two years of detours due to the bridge’s closure.
The $122 million bridge project, which began back in October 2021, promises to significantly improve traffic flow between Jupiter and Tequesta, an issue that has long plagued the community. Despite Hurricane Milton’s best efforts to unjustifiably delay the timeline, state officials and Mayor Kuretski have worked diligently to potentially expedite the opening of the lanes to before year’s end. This update was confirmed in a recent interview where Kuretski expressed his ongoing communication with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to ensure the project’s adherence to the adjusted schedule, as noted by The Palm Beach Post.
The closure of the bridge in March 2023 brought significant disruption to the area, affecting the local businesses along Jupiter’s waterfront. The bridge’s enhanced design includes two 11-foot vehicle lanes in each direction, coupled with 8-foot sidewalks and 7-foot bike lanes, thereby promising safer transit for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. This representational shift from the previous structure — a bridge that only provided a 2-foot shoulder with no sidewalk, as per The Palm Beach Post…