Voters in Palm Beach County can expect to encounter some traffic headaches as they head to the polls this Election Day, with multiple road closures and security measures in place across the region. In anticipation of the presidential election event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center and an election night watch party hosted by former President Donald Trump, local police have detailed significant traffic disruptions.
According to the CBS12 report, Okeechobee Boulevard will be reduced to just one lane eastbound from Parker to Rosemary Avenue early Tuesday, opening up to three lanes by 6 a.m. West Palm Beach Police have advised that westbound traffic should be less affected, although U-turns and left turns may be affected from Parker Avenue to South Quadrille Boulevard. Commuters looking to cross east-west should consider Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard or Belvedere Road as better alternatives while disruptions are in place.
For those on foot, the south sidewalk on Okeechobee Boulevard between Parker and Rosemary Avenues will be blocked, while the north sidewalk will remain open as an east-west detour. Despite attending the voting booth, drivers trying to access the Alexander Dreyfoos School of the Arts High School polling place will need to take Tamarind Avenue, as turning north onto Sapodilla Avenue from eastbound Okeechobee Boulevard will not be possible. The use of rideshare services to the designated pickup and drop-off location on South Rosemary Avenue is encouraged by authorities for those heading to the convention center.
The increased security measures also extend to the town of Palm Beach, with South Ocean Boulevard closed between South County Road and Southern Boulevard by Mar-A-Lago as of Nov. 4. "I'm keenly aware that the eyes of the world will be focused on West Palm Beach this week, particularly election night," West Palm Beach Mayor Keith James said, as obtained by WPTV.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw stated, "All in all, we are expecting a smooth evening and we are prepared to do whatever we need to do," indicating that major roads will remain open barring unforeseen circumstances. A designated protest area has been established, with interim police chief Antonio Araujo urging attendees to respect the law, as he told WPTV, "If you're going to join us, be lawful, we'll be courteous, please be courteous in return." The road closures are expected to continue through early Wednesday until after election activities have concluded.
