After years of stop‑and‑go traffic at the D.H. “Banty” Saunders drawbridge, Fort Pierce drivers are about to get a smoother ride to the barrier island. A new high‑span replacement for the A1A North Causeway is set to open Friday morning, a move local officials say will cut delays, strengthen evacuation routes and tighten the connection to North Hutchinson Island.
When Traffic Shifts To The New Bridge
Vehicles will start using the new State Road A1A North Causeway Bridge at 8 a.m. on Friday, weather permitting, with the existing drawbridge closing to traffic at the same time, according to WPBF.
The roughly 1.2‑mile project began construction in May 2023, and finishing work on accessory elements is expected to continue through late 2027, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
What The New Span Offers
WPTV got an early look at the bridge, where FDOT staff described the structure as “a really beautiful structure.” Senior FDOT project manager Joshua Baker went a step further, calling it “magical,” while senior project engineer Bill Stuckey said “the bridge is not 100 percent complete, but it’s definitely complete to get traffic up here so we can continue building the project.”
The station reported that bicycle lanes and the 12‑foot‑wide shared path will stay closed at opening while crews finish shoreline improvements and build out an observation deck under the west side of the span…