The long-awaited overhaul of East International Speedway Boulevard (ISB) - the city’s main gateway to the beach – is set to begin in April. The safety and beautification project will encompass the eight blocks of roadway from Halifax to Atlantic avenues and should be completed by summer 2024. The public is invited to join representatives from the Florida Department of Transportation, elected officials and community stakeholders for a groundbreaking ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the eastern base of the Broadway Bridge (also known as the ISB Bridge).
Removing blighted conditions and improving the safety and aesthetics for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists of the well-traveled roadway have been a priority for the city and community for the last decade. In 2017, the city advanced $750,000 to help offset the cost of engineering and design work. The city also purchased the blighted properties on the north and south sides of ISB and A1A and funded the undergrounding of overhead utilities and necessary adjustments to water and sewer pipes to accommodate the wider traffic lanes.
Upgrades to the state-owned road include:
- Wider travel lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the roadway
- Enhanced crosswalks at Halifax and Grandview avenues
- A raised and landscaped median
- A resurfaced roadway
- Reconstructed signals at Halifax Avenue, Peninsula Drive and Grandview Avenue
- Dedicated turning lanes for traffic headed south on A1A and traffic heading eastbound from A1A to ISB
- Undergrounding of overhead utilities
During construction, motorists should expect intermittent nighttime lane closures on ISB between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Intermittent sidewalk detours will be implemented to accommodate pedestrian traffic around the work area. Electronic message boards and other signage will be used to direct traffic around closures.
Access to residences and businesses, as well as pedestrian access, will be maintained throughout the duration of the project. The level of work activity will vary during different phases of construction, and the schedule may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
For more information, visit the project page on FDOT’s Central Florida Roads website.
