Florida's De-Flocking

Florida Department of Transportation announces removal of Flock cameras on state highways

The directive to remove Flock cameras and other license plate readers comes as citizens and public officials voice concerns about how the data would be used and regulated. Proponents of the technology, however, point to their capacity to increase public safety.

The Florida Department of Transportation issued a memo Aug. 31 revoking all previously issued permits for license plate readers (LPRs) — which includes the controversial Flock cameras — by state roads, giving a 30-day deadline for all of the cameras to be removed.

Department Chief Operating Officer Will Watts penned the memo to local law enforcement agencies explaining that those with the permits for the cameras must remove the cameras within the given period and that any remaining cameras will be removed by the department. He noted that the department retains the right to immediately remove any LPR that poses an immediate safety concern.

“While Florida law limits the issuance of permits for LPR systems to law enforcement agencies, the recent exponential increase in deployments along our roadways, coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns, and surveillance schemes merit immediate action to preserve Floridians’ sovereignty and quality of life,” Watts wrote.

“Flock’s technology is an important public safety tool for law enforcement agencies across Florida, helping officers solve serious crimes, find missing people, recover stolen vehicles, and support safer communities,” the company said. “In just the last few weeks in Florida, the technology was used to find missing children, led to the arrest of a murder suspect and assisted in solving numerous other crimes.”

Capitulating to the Big Brother Scare

6th Avenue South Construction

Interstate 95's 6th Avenue South exit

is undergoing a two-year upgrade project, expected to finish by the end of 2025.

Improvements include more turn lanes, wrong-way driver detection systems, wider sidewalks and bike lanes and noise-reducing walls.

Construction is causing traffic delays and lane closures, but the project aims to improve traffic flow and safety.

The days of waiting more than 10 minutes during rush hour to get off Interstate 95 onto Sixth Avenue South should be over by the end of 2025, when state transportation officials say the two-year-long project to upgrade that exit and the roads around it will finish.

Read about the quagmire

• Start Date: November 13, 2023
• Completion Date: Late 2025
• Contractor: The Ryan Companies
• Estimated Construction Cost: $17,920,542.94

More Construction on 6th Avenue South

Florida Department of Transportation December 18, 2024

Dear Elected Official: (Sarah Malega)

RE: Project Information Notification

State Road (SR) 9/I-95 Bridge Improvements Project
From 6th Avenue South to SR 802/Lake Worth Road
In the City of Lake Worth Beach
Financial Project ID Numbers: 449318-1-52-01

On behalf of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), we are pleased to inform you of the upcoming SR 9/I-95 Bridge Improvements Project from 6th Avenue South to SR 802/Lake Worth Road in the City of Lake Worth Beach.

A Construction Open House is not scheduled for this project. Construction will begin in January 2025. Attached is a copy of the project information flyer.

Community feedback is at the core of all we do, FDOT works with the public to balance their community vision with the community's transportation needs. This is routine on all our projects to ensure Florida's infrastructure is safe, resilient, and efficient for many years into the future. If you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the FDOT Palm Beach Operations Construction Engineer, Joseph Marzi, P.E., at (561) 370-1152 or via email at joseph.marzi@dot.state.fl.us.

Sincerely,
Steven C. Braun, P.E.
District 4 Secretary

FDOT screws up on sign

In Lake Worth Beach, FDOT construction crews misspell street sign 'YEILD' at key roundabout

Lake Worth Beach resident Rebecca McMenamin was driving to the gym early Tuesday when she did a double take at the Lake Avenue roundabout at A Street.

"I'm thinking, 'did I just see what I thought I saw?' Is the word 'yield' misspelled on the street?" she asked herself.

On the way back, she went around the circle twice to confirm her reading. She snapped a picture of the misspelled word painted on the pavement in white block letters and posted it on Facebook, opening the viral floodgates of fun with the Lake Worth Beach community — 300-plus "likes" and 100-plus comments.

Read about it...

With construction everywhere you turn (the signage is part of a $5.4 million resurfacing project underway on Lucerne and Lake avenues), this brings a little humor to it all.

6th Avenue South Closure

Notice from our District Commissioner, Sarah Malega

This notice is to inform you and your staff of an upcoming project to relocate two signal bridges on the South Florida Rail Corridor (SFRC) crossing at 6th Avenue South. The work will be performed by South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) contractors.

This work will require the full closure of 6th Avenue South to vehicular traffic from Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. to Monday, March 11, 2024, at 6:00 a.m. If necessary, this closure will extend to Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 6:00 a.m.

During the closure, traffic will be safely detoured along the established detour routes. Note: The existing road closure of 6th Avenue South, and the associated detour, remains in effect during this work effort.

Click to read--

Bridge Repairs/Rehabs I-95 from 6th Ave South to Lake Worth Road

I-95 at 6th Avenue South Northbound Closure Notice

FDOT Palm Beach County Traffic Report

August 25 – September 1, 2023

• I-95 Northbound Full Closure Notice:

All I-95 northbound lanes at 6th Avenue South will be closed to traffic overnight, 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Monday, Aug. 28 for overhead sign structure installation. The first lane will close at 9:30 p.m., the second lane will close at 10 p.m., and all lanes will be closed by 11 p.m., reopening by 5 a.m. During this operation, I-95 northbound traffic will be detoured via the I-95 northbound exit ramp to 6th Avenue South, US 1 North and the 10th Avenue North I-95 northbound entrance ramp.

Westbound 6th Avenue South motorists will be detoured to US 1 via u-turn. Tuesday, Aug. 29 will be used as a contingency night if needed. FHP will be onsite to assist motorists

Lake and Lucerne: Resurfacing, Restoration and Rehabilitation Project

FDOT's Public Information Meeting on Lake and Lucerne Avenues

WHEN: Wednesday, June 29 from 5 to 6pm
WHERE: Osborne Community Center, 1699 Wingfield St, Lake Worth Beach, FL 33460

Read about it...

I-95/SR 9 Interchange at 6th Avenue South

Improvements for I-95/SR 9 Interchange at 6th Avenue South

This evening I joined the online meeting sponsored by FDOT.

Proposed Improvements:

• Adding a lane at the north and southbound off ramps

• Adding a merge lane and adding a right turn lane at the southbound on-ramp.

• Widening roadway pavement along 6th Avenue South to provide 7-foot buffered bicycle lanes

• Adding a lane on westbound 6th Avenue south from Michigan Avenue to the I-95 Interchange

• Signalization and pavement making upgrades

• Street lighting upgrades

• Replacement of railroad tracks, railroad gates, and overhead sign structure

The construction start date is spring 2023.
Estimated Construction end time is Winter 2025
Construction cost estimate if $9.3 million

Mayor Betty Resch and Commissioner Sarah Malega were on the virtual public meeting along with Reinaldo Diaz whose mike was muted. I might have missed others from Lake Worth.

Lake Worth Commission wants to slow-down speeders on Federal Highway

Speeders in Lake Worth

We see them every day; they are all over some major roads within our city...6th Avenue South comes to mind immediately as well as Lake Osborne Drive.

"Residents of Lake Worth Beach have long complained to city commissioners about the speeders along Federal Highway. Now officials are trying to do something about it."

There are never cops around when you need them it seems.

We, out here in the western community along Lake Osborne Drive, part of the most neglected district in Lake Worth, have been trying to get traffic calming for a very long time as the county road is dangerous to cross for wildlife and humans alike. Senior citizens live along a long strip of road. I forward photos of destruction and dead wildlife to no avail. We are ignored and silence is the mantra.

The commission, however, is all involved now with roundabouts on Federal Highway to slow down the traffic there. FDOT would have to approve of the project and FDOT would pay for it.

Read the Palm Beach Post article

Public Hearing by FDOT on 6th Avenue Interchange

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Four has initiated a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for the Interstate 95 (I-95) Interchange at 6th Avenue South in the City of Lake Worth. The project limits are from north of 12th Avenue South to south of Lake Worth Road along I-95 and from Michigan Avenue to South C Street along 6th Avenue South in Palm Beach County.

The purpose of this study is to identify short-term and long-term needs and develop design concepts to address traffic spillback onto I-95, improve interchange operations, reduce congestion, and increase safety at the study interchange. The proposed improvements will address pedestrian and bicycle modes and will ensure that the project corridor continues to meet mobility and safety goals as travel demand continues to grow.

The hearing will be held on Thursday, August 3 at 5:30 pm at the gymnasium located at The Club Managers Association of America Therapeutic Complex at 2728 Lake Worth Road. I was at their last meeting in September 2016 where we were told that plan implementation, costing anywhere from $9 million to $11 million, is needed to support the growth projected in year 2040.One plan involved eminent domain on property on the south side of 6th Avenue South.

As I have another meeting that night, I am hoping some of you from this area will attend.

FDOT and its plans for 6th Avenue South

On September 15, Katie and I attended FDOT's meeting held at John Prince Park regarding the two state plans presented in order to evaluate preliminary engineering and environmentally feasible solutions, such as widening 6th Avenue South and the I-95 interchange, adding bike lanes on 6th Avenue South. This is in order to address the future capacity, operations and safety needs of the roadway. We both liked plan #2 as there was no eminent domain involved.

We were told that plan implementation, costing anywhere from $9 million to $11 million, is needed to support the growth projected in year 2040.

I can't help but think it might have to do with the Atlanta Braves and this county commission wanting to hand over 100 plus acres to them. Can you even imagine the traffic on a typical baseball day in a stadium that is expecting to hold 10,000 people? It will be slowed to a halt and bumper to bumper. 6th Avenue South is already a bottleneck. With the expected all Aboard Florida additional trains, it will be virtually impossible at that Interchange.

Restrictions on I-95 at 10th Avenue North postponed

Please be advised that the I-95 southbound diversion scheduled at 10th Avenue North for this Wednesday night, Aug. 24 and Thursday night, Aug. 25 (please see below) has been postponed and will not occur as planned.

This activity is weather-dependent and will be rescheduled based on developments with Tropical Storm activity.

New dates will be announced in this Friday’s press release.

10th Avenue North
Restrictions: I-95 southbound diversion: I-95 southbound traffic will be diverted at 10th Avenue North to allow for bridge beam setting over I-95, nightly, 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Wednesday night, Aug. 24 and Thursday night, Aug. 25. FHP will divert I-95 southbound traffic to the southbound exit ramp at 10th Avenue North. Motorists will then be routed back to I-95 southbound via the southbound I-95 entrance ramp from 10th Avenue North. Advanced Notice: I-95 northbound traffic will be diverted at 10th Avenue North to allow for bridge beam setting over I-95, nightly, 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Sunday night, Aug. 28 and Monday night, Aug. 29. FHP will divert I-95 northbound traffic to the northbound exit ramp at 10th Avenue North. Motorists will then be routed back to I-95 northbound via the northbound I-95 entrance ramp from 10th Avenue North.

I-95 Traffic at 10th Avenue North to be diverted

Comment Up

I -95 northbound traffic will be diverted at 10th Avenue North nightly, 11 p.m. until 5 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 21 through Thursday, Aug. 25 to allow for bridge beam placement over I-95.

This $11.2 million, 0.579-mile project began construction on Monday, Nov. 2, and is expected to be completed in summer 2017, weather permitting. Work is being performed by Community Asphalt Corp, with Cardno administering the construction contract for FDOT.

Maintenance of Traffic I-95 northbound traffic will be diverted at 10th Avenue North to allow for bridge beam setting over I-95, nightly, 11 p.m. until 5a.m., Sunday, Aug. 21 through Thursday, Aug. 25 FHP will divert I- 95 northbound traffic to the northbound exit ramp at 10th Avenue North. Motorists will then be routed back to I-95 northbound via the northbound I-95 entrance ramp from 10th Avenue North.

Detour on Lucerne Avenue

Beginning at 6:00 am on Saturday, August 8th 2015, until 11:00 pm Monday, August 10th 2015, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) will close the railroad crossing (#272462R, at RR milepost 305+5236’) located on SR-802/Lucerne Avenue (between F and G Streets) in City of Lake Worth for these days, weather permitting. During this time, all traffic will be detoured away from the Lucerne Avenue crossing and directed to follow signs to alternate local streets.

PURPOSE/SCOPE: This detour is being established to allow workers to perform necessary repairs to the FEC Railway crossing surface. During the closure, workers will remove and replace concrete crossing panels and track panel, and repave crossing surface to improve ride quality.

Lake Worth Bridge soon to be completed

After speaking with the Public Information Director at FDOT, the Lake Worth Bridge repair completion date is ahead of schedule.  Instead of May, the engineer on the project anticipates its completion by the end of next week.  Soon, we will all be back to normal.  The reason you don't see workers is that they are repairing the mechanics underneath the bridge.

As reported previously, Lake Worth Road (SR 802) Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway (City of Lake Worth)Construction on this 0.3-mile project began Thursday, October 2, 2014, in the City of Lake Worth. Work consists of the full removal and replacement of the bascule and flanking span steel superstructure coating system, spall repair, cathodic protection upgrades and the maintenance and operation of the bridge. The project costs an estimated $2.6 million. The work is being performed by Coastal Gunite Construction Company, Inc. and is expected to be completed spring 2015.

FDOT Open House today at City Hall

Don't forget the FDOT Open house today to be held in the Conference Room at City Hall

April 2, 4pm – 6pm

Lake Worth City Hall, 7 North Dixie Highway, Lake Worth, FL 33460, United States (map)

Regarding Dixie Highway Resurfacing between 14th Avenue South & 10 Avenue South.

FDOT to host Open house at Lake Worth City Hall

On Thursday, April 2, 2015, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will host an informational Open House for the Dixie Highway (State Road 805) resurfacing project, from 14th Avenue South to 10th Avenue South, in the City of Lake Worth. The meeting will be held from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the City of Lake Worth’s City Hall conference room, located at 7 North Dixie Highway, in Lake Worth, Florida.

Project personnel will be on hand to discuss the scope of work, construction schedule, and address questions and comments one-on-one. No formal presentation will be made.

This 0.35-mile project will begin construction on March 26, 2015 and is expected to be completed in early summer 2015, weather permitting. The construction cost is $547, 622.14. Work is being performed by Weekly Asphalt Paving, Inc., with the Florida Department of Transportation overseeing the project.

Scope of Work
 Roadway resurfacing
 Signal Improvements

Maintenance of Traffic
Project-related lane closures on Dixie Highway, from 14th Avenue South to 10th Avenue South, can be expected Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Access will be maintained to all businesses and residences during this time.

FDOT comments on All Aboard Florida

The Florida Department of Transportation has submitted these comments to the Federal Railroad Administration on March 2, 2015. Please follow the link to read the full comments.

Click here

Lake Worth Bridge to undergo repairs

Comment Up

This is just a reminder as I have posted it before. Have had no problems crossing the Lake Worth bridge over the last few days but perhaps this is the day work began?

The City of Lake Worth would like to notify the residents, businesses and visitors of the City that the Lake Worth Bridge (FDOT SR 802 Bridge) as owned and maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation will be undergoing minor repairs and painting.

The work is scheduled to begin on Monday October 27, 2014 and last approximately 180 calendar days (6 months). The bridge will remain open to vehicular, pedestrian and vessel traffic as work progresses. FDOT will be shutting down one bridge span at a time therefore two way traffic will be relocated onto one bridge span making only one lane in each direction. Once the first bridge span is completed, the traffic control route will switch to the other bridge span.

If there are any questions or concerns regarding this project, please contact FDOT's District 4 office at 1-866-336-8435.

For more information on this please feel free to call the Public Service Administration Office at 561-586-1720.