Res 06-75 RESOLUTION No. 6-75
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE CONSTRUCTION
OF THE CRITICALLY NEEDED PROPOSED SOUTH TWELFTH
STREET (LINTON BOULEVARD) BRIDGE OVER THE
INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY
WHEREAS, the right of way has all been procured, and the Coast Guard
did hold hearings on the South Twelfth Street Bridge in Delray Beach,
Florida; and
WHEREAS, the present Atlantic Avenue Bridge in Delray Beach on State
Road S-806 w~s epened in 1952 when the official census for
~e~ray Beach was
6,312; and
WHEREAS, the 1970 census for Delray Beach was 19,366, and is estimated
at 27,000 population as of January, 1975, to which can be added facilities
for 9,000 tourists which has become a year round business; and
WHEREAS, this rapid growth in population has resulted in more vehicle
traffic over the 2~-year-old Atlantic Avenue Bridge which far exceeds the
original, design capacity; and
WHEREAS, the population growth all along the east coast has created a
large increase in boat traffic resulting in more raisings and lowerings of
the Atlantic Avenue bridge for which the equipment was not designed thereby
resulting in breakdowns; and
WHEREAS, due to the low clearance of 14 feet for the Atlantic Avenue
~Bridge, it is estimated that the bridge must be raised for 50 per cent of
the boats using the Intracoastal Waterway; and
· WHEREAS, the Atlantic Avenue Bridge has been in constant need of
repair for a number of years; and
WHEREAS, at times when bridge was not useable, it would take upwards
of 45 minutes to detour and cross the 8th Street bridge; and
WHEREAS, during times when bridge was not use'able, prompt and effi-
cient fire, Police, ambulance and other emergency services for the citizens
were not available to the section of Delray Beach lying east of the Intra-
coastal Waterway; and
WHEREAS, the present traffic on S-80'6, also known as Atlantic Avenue,
in Delray Beach, is congested many times daily with the stacking of traffic
for bridge openings and breakdowns and staCking of' traffic for train cross-
ing to such an extent that north and south bound traffic on U.S. 1, in
Delray Beach, is impeded' and sometimes blocked because of such stacking of
traffic; and
WHEREAS, the proposed South Twelfth Street Bridge in Delray Beach
will be of a maximum height wh. ich will necessitate fewer openings for boat
traffic and faster movement of vehicles; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the fewer openings the following traffic will
utilize the TwelfthStreet Bridge in going to areas east of the Intracoastal
Waterway, and thereby reduce the traffic on Atlantic Avenue, namely:
(a) People using 1-95, whose destination is east of the
Intracoastal Waterway, will utilize the interchange at Linton Boulevard and
avoid Atlantic Avenue traffic, traffic lights and bridge openings and
breakdowns.
(b) Most trucks and commercial ~ehicles would utilize the
South Twelfth Street Bridge for the resultant savings in time as a r~sult
of avoiding the heavy traffic on Atlantic Avenue and the uncertainty of
bridge openings and breakdowns.
(c) City garbage and trash trucks hauling to the transfer
station located south of Linton Boulevard.
(d) The City's only snorkle fire engine which is stationed
on Linton Boulevard (12th Street) with most high-rise buildings being east
of the waterway.
WHEREAS, the Town of Highland Beach with a population today of 2,700
with 700 additional dwelling units under construction and hundreds more on
the planning boards adds greatly to the Atlantic Avenue Bridge congestion
problem and would use the new South Twelfth Street Bridge,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF DELRAY BEACH,
FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners be advised of
these matters to illustrate the necessity for promptly moving forward with
letting the contract and constructing the bridge with the $5,000,000 funds
already allocated for the project to help ease serious traffic problems
with which the City is confronted today and which is getting Worse with each
passing day.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in special session on this '3rd day of February,
1975.
ATTEST:
City Clerk
- 2 v Res. No.6-75