Government

Major A1A Repaving, Improvement Project in Highland Beach ‘Substantially Complete’

by
Daniel Nee
January 8, 2026

After more than a year of construction, the project to upgrade Ocean Boulevard (A1A) in Highland Beach is “substantially complete,” with only a few minor punch-list items remaining as work wraps up, officials said this week.

“The project is winding down,” said Highland Beach Town Manager Marshall Labadie. “The barrels have been removed and the bike lane conflicts with turn lanes have been marked. Substantial completion of the contract, which is a contract term, is scheduled for the end of next week. So what you’re going to see now are tiny little projects – touch-ups, punch list items, if they forgot to elevate a pathway or a sprinkler is broken.”

The completed upgrade of A1A in Highland Beach, FL, consisting of widening, repavement, and the installation of bike lanes. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The $8.3 million project, funded by the state Department of Transportation, consisted of milling and resurfacing the existing roadway, widening the roadway in each direction to provide five-foot bicycle lanes, modifying swales to improve drainage, and upgrading signage and pavement markings to meet current standards. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians will notice not only smoother pavement, but bright green markings to signify bike lanes, reflective paint and clear indications of where turns are permitted.

“For most people in town, the project is done,” said Labadie. “You’ll just see a lot of mini-projects here and there during the daytime.”

The completed upgrade of A1A in Highland Beach, FL, consisting of widening, repavement, and the installation of bike lanes. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

One nagging issue for motorists has been the traffic light at A1A and Linton Boulevard, where mis-timed signals have caused backups – especially in recent weeks with the influx of seasonal visitors. This is due to the removal of the “loop,” Labadie said, which is an electrical connection built into the roadway that detects the presence of vehicles and triggers the traffic light to change.

“They still have to put together the electrical loop for car activation of signals that was removed during the stormwater piece that they did,” said Labadie. “When they had a storm drain they had to replace in Delray, they had to remove the loop. … Right now, it’s not on a demand basis, it’s just based on timing set by the county. We’re hoping all of the parties that come to play will fix the final touches and get that signal appropriately timed.”

The completed upgrade of A1A in Highland Beach, FL, consisting of widening, repavement, and the installation of bike lanes. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The only remaining piece of the envisioned upgrade project is the installation of lighted crosswalk signals that can be activated by pedestrians waiting to cross. Labadie said state Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman has requested an appropriation from the state to fund their installation in the next legislative session, though the items that make it to the final iteration of the state budget are always uncertain.

“If it doesn’t go anywhere with the state, we will proceed to see if we can have those budgeted this year,” Labadie said.