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Dear Neighbors,
As soon as I was elected, I started working to reduce the frequency of openings of the 17th Street Bridge. We officially received verification that the temporary deviation will be effective from 6 a.m. on June 2, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. on November 28, 2025. During this period, the bridge will not open on weekdays (except federal holidays) at the following times: 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m.,4:30 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. The new schedule is intended to reduce roadway congestion during peak hours. The U.S. Coast Guard will use this period to evaluate whether a permanent change is appropriate. The schedule was designed to ease vehicle traffic without significantly impacting marine access. We had a great team working together to make this happen. This is a HUGE win and one that has never ever happened before!
As you may be keenly aware, hurricane season is among us. Rest assured that the City has had continuous internal and external collaboration to prepare residents during these months. Our Public Works team inspects and cleans every storm drain in the city an average of twice a year, performing nearly 20,000 inspections annually, with increased attention during the rainy season and in flood-prone areas. Use FIXITFTL or call (954)-828-8000 to report debris in storm drains. During flood events, our stormwater team has access to 24 mobile pumps, 11 vactor trucks, 4 tankers, and the City has contracts for additional support if needed. Stormwater management is a multi-jurisdictional effort involving Broward County and the Florida Department of Transportation, as the City is responsible for maintaining just under 60% of the drainage infrastructure within city boundaries. Our partnerships are essential to addressing flooding concerns. Currently, we are collaborating with the County to deploy a flood sensor network at key county road intersections in the near future.
To help you and your family prepare for flooding events, the City will provide free sandbags to residents on the first Saturday and Sunday of each month (10:00 AM–1:00 PM) from May through November. You can pick up sandbags at George English Park, Holiday Park, Mills Pond Park, or the Floyd Hull/Morton Center. During major weather events, parking enforcement will be lifted at select garages. To stay informed during an emergency, please sign up for AlertFTL here to receive prompt notifications. For full storm preparation tips and resources, please visit Fort Lauderdale's storm preparation website here or Broward County's here.
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