Palm Beach County commissioners voted to allow a temporary reopening of Homewood Road so county engineers can replace a deteriorated bridge, after residents urged the board not to permanently restore the roadway through a long‑established residential neighborhood.

Engineering staff said the bridge replacement is a $2,000,000 project that will require a 9–12‑month reconnection of Homewood Road for construction traffic and access. Staff told the board reopening temporarily for the construction is necessary and that once construction is finished the board could revisit whether the road remains open.

Several neighbors told commissioners they bought homes because Homewood Road had been closed for years and that the street's dead‑end character preserves safety. “What we don't support is leaving that road open after the construction project ends,” said Diana Matty, a resident who asked the board to delete language that would make the reconnection permanent. Neighbors also handed petitions and questioned whether flyers and notices had made the permanence change clear; staff said earlier notices used the word “temporary” but a most recent flyer described a reconnection without that explicit word.

Commissioner Flores moved to approve a temporary reconnection so the bridge work can proceed and to return to the board later for a final determination about permanence. Vice Mayor Woodward asked staff to ensure clear, prominent notification to residents about the later public review. The motion passed unanimously.

Staff committed to filing neighborhood petitions with the clerk and to returning with detailed engineering differences between a temporary and permanent reconnection before any final decision on permanence. Residents asked for follow‑up notices and more community engagement prior to a final vote.