LOCAL

Water main replacement project on South Ocean Boulevard nearing completion

Work began in April and could be complete by early November, according to the Town.

Jodie Wagner
Palm Beach Daily News
Construction workers install a water pipe at the northwest corner of South Ocean Boulevard and Royal Palm Way on Sept. 27. The project has caused period blocking of traffic.

Traffic tie-ups on South Ocean Boulevard in Palm Beach could come to an end by Halloween.

An off-season project to replace an aging water main along a half-mile stretch of roadway is nearly complete, said Mike Roach, a project engineer with the town.

Crews have been working since mid-April to install new infrastructure on South Ocean Boulevard between Gulfstream Road and Royal Palm Way.

Work is expected to be finished by late October or early November.

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"We're at more of the end of the project," Roach said. "It's coming down to just doing some final tie-ins, and then we'll be doing some milling and resurfacing, mostly in the southbound lane and portions of the northbound lane."

The existing water main was more than 50 years old, Roach said, and an upgrade was needed. 

"It was old," he said. "It needed replacing."

Construction work has affected traffic along South Ocean Boulevard, with southbound and northbound lanes closed periodically throughout the duration of the project.

Closures are expected to continue as crews get close to wrapping up their work.

"Right now, lanes are closed because of ongoing work," Roach said. 

The South Ocean Boulevard water main project is one of two that is being managed by the town's Public Works Department, Roach said.

The other is at the new Town Marina, which is expected to open in November. 

"We're tying in the city's water main to loop the system a little bit better," Roach said.

The $38 million Town Marina project, in which all facilities will be upgraded, will include the expansion of 84 slips to allow larger boats, replacing stationary docks with floating docks, installing a new security system, and upgrading technology to include high-speed Wi-Fi and enhanced shore power.

Jodie Wagner is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

@JRWagner5