Las Olas Bridge to Close Five Days in November
The Florida Department of Transportation will close the East Las Olas Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway from Nov. 14 to Nov. 19 for rehabilitation work.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Cruises
The state Department of Transportation will close the East Las Olas Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway from 8 a.m. Nov. 14 to 6 a.m. Nov. 19. The closure is the third and final one for a $14.1 million rehabilitation project that began in May.
Why it matters
Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists in Fort Lauderdale will need to use detours or alternative routes for five days. The closure was scheduled to avoid the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and to fall before the holiday season and the arrival of snowbirds.
The Nov. 14 to 19 closure is the longest of the three closures so far, which lasted two days each in August and September. Work is scheduled to finish by summer 2027, but the extraction does not say whether the schedule could change.
The players
Florida Department of Transportation
The state agency that owns and maintains the East Las Olas Boulevard bridge and is overseeing its $14.1 million rehabilitation.
The details
Eastbound traffic will be detoured via Federal Highway, East Sunrise Boulevard and State Road A1A while the bridge is closed. Crews will remove temporary lane dividers, barriers and railings, install a new median, and repair and resurface portions of the bridge deck.
Timeline
May 2026: Rehabilitation project began.
Early August 2026: First two-day bridge closure.
Late September 2026: Second two-day closure to reconfigure traffic lanes.
Nov. 14–19, 2026: Five-day closure for rehabilitation.
Summer 2027: Expected project completion.
Travel Outlook
The closure was timed around the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and the seasonal arrival of snowbirds, both of which bring heavy visitor traffic to the city. Scheduling the work before the holiday season reflects an effort to limit disruption during the city's busiest travel period.
Travelers heading to Fort Lauderdale around Nov. 14 to 19 should plan for the East Las Olas Boulevard bridge to be fully closed to all traffic. The 17th Street Causeway bridge is available as an alternative route.
The takeaway
Travelers and residents who cross the Intracoastal near East Las Olas Boulevard should plan alternate routes for Nov. 14 through Nov. 19. Checking the closure dates before traveling can help avoid delays during the holiday travel period.
What happens next
The bridge rehabilitation is expected to be completed by summer 2027, with remaining work including bridge tender house upgrades, electrical and mechanical systems, roadway resurfacing, painting and installation of a new fender system.
Further reading
For more on travel planning around the city, see Cruises.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sun Sentinel.
