Pompano Beach approves $22 million McNabb Road streetscape and bridge replacement; residents raise traffic, timing concerns

The Pompano Beach City Commission on a unanimous roll call approved a contract to construct the McNabb Road Streetscape and replace the McNabb bridge, a project the city says addresses aging infrastructure, drainage problems and pedestrian safety on a corridor that carries about 20,000 vehicles a day.

The contract the commission approved directs staff to execute construction work and associated redevelopment agreements with private property owners affected by the project. City staff described the work as a combination of roadway resurfacing, sidewalk replacement, LED street lighting, utility relocations and a full replacement of the bridge structure, which the city says was built in 1952 and is “past its life cycle.” The presentation noted the bridge replacement will raise vertical and horizontal clearances and provide redundancy for an existing force main.

Why it matters: The McNabb corridor links Cypress Road and U.S. 1 and serves as a key east–west route for residential communities and condo complexes. City staff said replacing the bridge and modernizing stormwater infrastructure will reduce chronic ponding problems and avoid higher maintenance costs associated with continued patch repairs.

City presentation and scope: Fernando Toney, Obon director, told the commission the streetscape package includes sidewalk and curb replacement, drainage improvements with a new stormwater system, resurfacing, new signage and upgraded lighting. The bridge will be reconstructed to meet current code, increase vertical clearance, and relocate utilities now near the bridge. Toney told commissioners the bridge work is scheduled to minimize school impacts and that the bridge replacement is recommended because the existing structure is “functionally obsolete” though not currently structurally deficient.

Residents pressed on impacts and schedule. Several residents and property representatives described how the new alignment and raised bridge will change property access. Jeff Berman, the city attorney, said the package includes negotiated redevelopment or settlement agreements with adjacent property owners to address driveway relocations, parking reconfiguration and other access changes — agreements Berman said were planned to avoid later takings claims. “No money being transferred,” Berman said when asked whether the agreements included direct payments; he said those costs would be absorbed as part of the project’s budget and land acquisitions already made for the improvement.

Cypress Club and condo representatives asked how their driveways and parking would be reconfigured; Renee Zaldivar, president of Cypress Club condo association, told the commission the association supports the safety and beautification elements while noting the community will take “hardship” from entrance relocations and asked the city to coordinate closely with residents during construction. Public commenters also asked that emergency access and school travel be considered when the bridge is closed for construction.

Timing and interdependencies: Commissioners and speakers asked whether work on the McNabb bridge could conflict with a separate Sixth Terrace bridge project that residents have long sought. Staff said the McNabb bridge schedule contemplates using the Sixth Terrace alignment as an alternate route during McNabb construction; that raised concerns from commissioners for sequencing both projects because doing both at once could significantly strain east–west traffic routes. City staff said design and procurement steps to accelerate the Sixth Terrace project are underway so that, if the Army Corps issues permits, the city could move quickly on that bridge as well.

Cost and contract: Staff presented the negotiated construction contract price for the McNabb project as the low responsive offer received after competitive procurement. The contract figure was read aloud during the presentation; the commission approved awarding the contract and authorized the execution of required redevelopment agreements. Commissioners were told the contract includes liquidated damages for delays and that the city maintains contingency funds for owner-driven change orders.

Commission action and vote: The commission approved the construction contract and related agreements in a unanimous roll call vote (Commissioners Fesick, Perkins, Seegerson Eaton, Smith, Vice Mayor Fournier and Mayor Harden voting yes). Staff indicated construction of the bridge component will be scheduled to limit traffic impacts, with the bridge work targeted to begin after the 2026 school break.

What remains: Staff said they will continue coordination with property owners, BSO and school officials on traffic mitigation and emergency access plans, finalize redevelopment/settlement agreements with affected property owners, and proceed to construction mobilization once permits and final insurance and bonding matters are resolved. The city noted funding for the project comes in part from a Geo Bond program approved by voters.

Residents and commissioners asked staff to report back with additional materials during construction planning, including clearer diagrams of driveway changes and mitigation measures and to evaluate opportunities to reduce construction impacts on adjacent neighborhoods.