As of May 15, drivers in St. Lucie County will soon get their first trip across the new North Causeway Bridge, a high-rise span expected to ease traffic and improve travel between Hutchinson Island and the mainland.Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25The new state Road A1A North Causeway Bridge is scheduled to open Friday at 8 a.m., replacing the drawbridge that has long connected the island to Fort Pierce.For commuters, the change could mean an end to the stop-and-go traffic caused by bridge openings for marine traffic.“Probably 15, 20 minutes,” commuter Steven Kenney said when asked how long drivers typically wait when the drawbridge is open. “That’s 15, 20 minutes that you could be spending at the beach.”The Florida Department of Transportation said the new bridge is designed to reduce congestion, improve safety and provide a stronger evacuation route ahead of hurricane season.The project also adds wider shoulders, buffered bike lanes, a shared-use path and pedestrian access, expanding options for people traveling across the causeway.For workers who maintained the old drawbridge, the opening marks the end of a structure that required regular upkeep.“We no longer have to wait on the drawbridge, nor do we ever have to work on it again,” commuter Aaron Netherton said.Boaters are also expected to benefit because they will no longer need to coordinate around drawbridge openings.Once the new bridge opens, the existing drawbridge will close to traffic and later be demolished as part of the project’s final phase.Officials said drivers can begin using the bridge Friday morning, but work on the overall project will continue through late 2027.Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.

FORT PIERCE, Fla. —

As of May 15, drivers in St. Lucie County will soon get their first trip across the new North Causeway Bridge, a high-rise span expected to ease traffic and improve travel between Hutchinson Island and the mainland.

Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25

The new state Road A1A North Causeway Bridge is scheduled to open Friday at 8 a.m., replacing the drawbridge that has long connected the island to Fort Pierce.

For commuters, the change could mean an end to the stop-and-go traffic caused by bridge openings for marine traffic.

“Probably 15, 20 minutes,” commuter Steven Kenney said when asked how long drivers typically wait when the drawbridge is open. “That’s 15, 20 minutes that you could be spending at the beach.”

The Florida Department of Transportation said the new bridge is designed to reduce congestion, improve safety and provide a stronger evacuation route ahead of hurricane season.

The project also adds wider shoulders, buffered bike lanes, a shared-use path and pedestrian access, expanding options for people traveling across the causeway.

For workers who maintained the old drawbridge, the opening marks the end of a structure that required regular upkeep.

“We no longer have to wait on the drawbridge, nor do we ever have to work on it again,” commuter Aaron Netherton said.

Boaters are also expected to benefit because they will no longer need to coordinate around drawbridge openings.

Once the new bridge opens, the existing drawbridge will close to traffic and later be demolished as part of the project’s final phase.

Officials said drivers can begin using the bridge Friday morning, but work on the overall project will continue through late 2027.

Get the latest weather updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.