The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) replaced the aging U.S. 1 bridge over the Loxahatchee River with a new 915-foot crossing designed to improve roadway, pedestrian, bicycle and marine mobility. The new structure features a 267-foot twin double-leaf trunnion hydraulically operated bascule span, four travel lanes, buffered bicycle lanes and barrier-separated sidewalks. STV served as prime construction engineering and inspection (CEI) consultant, supporting the project from construction through testing and final delivery.
What challenges did STV address?
Construction required maintaining mobility through a constrained corridor while protecting sensitive environmental and historic resources. Work also involved complex utility relocations and coordination of structural, mechanical, hydraulic and electrical systems. A hybrid staging strategy reduced the overall schedule by an estimated 18 months compared with fully phased construction.
What solutions did STV deliver?
STV provided CEI for bridge construction, roadway improvements, utility relocations, intelligent transportation systems, drainage and mechanically stabilized earth walls. The team also provided specialty CEI support for power distribution, controls, lighting, HVAC, fire protection, fire alarms and bridge mechanical systems, followed by hydraulic functional testing, generator reviews, factory acceptance testing and field troubleshooting.
How does this project benefit the region?
The new crossing expands marine clearance and is expected to reduce bridge openings by approximately 44%, limiting interruptions for motorists and boaters. Eight-foot sidewalks, buffered bicycle lanes, overlooks and Riverwalk connections also create new multimodal connections across the river.
Key stats and accolades
- 915-foot replacement bridge
- 267-foot twin double-leaf bascule span
- Marine horizontal clearance increased from 90 to 125 feet
- Vertical clearance increased to as much as 42 feet
- Approximately 267 prestressed piles
- Estimated 44% reduction in bridge openings
- ACEC Florida/FDOT Outstanding Bridge Project Award, 2026
- ASCE Palm Beach Branch Project of the Year
- FTBA Best in Construction Award, Major Bridges
- ENR Southeast Best Project, Highways/Bridges
