On McNab Road, between South Cypress Road and Federal Highway, the road crosses the C-14 canal, which local coverage calls the Cypress Creek Canal. The old bridge there went up in 1959. The bridge replacing it sits about four feet higher, according to the City of Pompano Beach. That gives boaters more room underneath and leaves the crossing better able to handle rising water for decades.
Since April, drivers have mostly wanted to know when the bridge opens. The city set November 1, 2026 as the target for the bridge to carry traffic again. The whole McNab Road Streetscape and Bridge Replacement Project is scheduled to finish in December 2026. Those are two separate milestones. Cars come back first. Paving, lane striping, roadway lighting and landscaping keep going around them, and the corridor that's finished at the end of the year will look and work differently from the one that closed.
Built For The Canal As Much As The Road
The extra four feet is about the water. The city's project page describes greater marine clearance meant to improve navigation and access for larger vessels on the canal. The city's September update also called the 1959 bridge functionally obsolete and at the end of its useful life. That put it near the top of the list for the voter-approved 2018 "G.O. Pompano!" Bond program. According to Pompano Beach News, that bond package paid for 25 large projects across the city, and the McNab overhaul has become one of the most visible.
The canal stayed largely open while the road was closed. The city's plan kept the waterway open except for safety closures, and it announced one ten-day navigation closure under the bridge starting Wednesday, July 22. So for most of the year, boats kept moving under the bridge while drivers on McNab detoured around it.
How November 1 Became The Date
The reopening date moved once. Weather moved it.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Monday, April 13, 2026 | McNab Road and the bridge close to through traffic |
| May 2026 | City projections aim for the bridge to reopen by October 1, weather permitting |
| Wednesday, July 22, 2026 | Ten-day waterway closure beneath the bridge begins |
| September 16, 2026 | City moves the bridge reopening to November 1, citing persistent rainfall |
| October 26, 2026 | City reports more than 90 days of rain since May and steady progress |
| December 2026 | Scheduled completion of the full streetscape and bridge project |
When the city moved the bridge date, it said the change wasn't expected to push back the December finish for the whole project. Mayor Rex Hardin's statement in the city's October 5 update spoke to the people living with the detour: "We appreciate the community's continued patience as we work through weather and construction challenges to complete these important improvements." As late as October 29, Gold Coast Wave reported that the city expected traffic back by Sunday, November 1, weather permitting.
What Comes After The Cars Return
The city's October 26 progress report shows where the work stood a week before the target date. The bridge's substructure was done. The prestressed structural members and concrete deck were substantially in place. Utility improvements and the major streetscape concrete work had wrapped up earlier in the year.
The same report listed the work still in progress or still to come:
- Crews were still building the bridge approaches and retaining walls.
- Landscaping was being installed.
- Crews were getting the new LED roadway lighting ready to switch on.
- Final paving and striping were set to follow.
That order matters for anyone driving McNab this month. Paving and striping come near the end, so a reopened bridge can still sit inside an active work zone, with fresh lane markings arriving in stages. The city also said it may add overnight and weekend work if needed, "while remaining mindful of nearby residents and businesses." If you live along the corridor, expect some after-dark equipment noise between now and December.
The Street That Arrives In December
When the bridge reopens, McNab gets its connection back. The December finish changes how the corridor works. The city's improvement list for the stretch from South Cypress Road to Federal Highway includes ADA-compliant sidewalks and ramps, road resurfacing, better lighting, upgraded drainage, new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improved bus stops and shelters, utility upgrades and new landscaping.
Most of that list serves people who aren't in cars. Before the closure, this stretch mainly moved traffic between Cypress Road and Federal Highway. The rebuilt version is designed around walkers, cyclists and transit riders too. The city says the goal is better pedestrian and bicycle access and stronger connections along the east-west route.
The work is large. The city commission's March 11, 2025 contract record names H.A. Contracting Corp. as the construction contractor, with a contract amount of $22,936,498.77.
The Businesses On Either Side Of The Detour
Shops near the bridge felt the closure most. In May, Pompano Beach News reported that the city saw customer traffic slowing for small businesses near the construction, as drivers avoided congestion or assumed stores were closed. The city answered with a marketing push: social media ads, email outreach, a spot in a city newsletter that reaches more than 70,000 residents, and corridor signs reminding people the businesses were open.
The campaign named five stops:
- Brewfish Bar & Grill, a longtime seafood spot with waterfront dining and patio seating
- Reel Deal Bait & Tackle, for anglers stocking up on gear and bait before heading out
- Jeanne's Salon & Spa, for hair and spa appointments
- Kwik Stop Food Store, for snacks, drinks and household basics
- Orion Fuels, for fuel on the way through
The city's message for Brewfish, as quoted in that report, sums up the case it was making all summer:
"Your go-to spot for great seafood, a relaxed atmosphere, and excellent drinks. They are ready to serve you inside or out on the patio—no detours can stop a great meal!"
Before You Drive McNab This Month
For any day the bridge is closed to traffic, the city's official detour sends through traffic by Federal Highway and Cypress Creek Road, with Atlantic Boulevard as the northern alternate and 62nd Street as the southern one. Local access for residents, businesses, transit, mail, trash pickup and deliveries was kept open throughout.
Three quick ways to check the current status:
- Open the city's McNab Road project page for the latest schedule and detour map.
- Read the city's press releases, where every McNab milestone this fall has been announced.
- Sign up for the city's email notifications to get updates as they're posted.
Big infrastructure projects shape how a neighborhood lives day to day, and that matters to anyone thinking about a home along the C-14 canal or anywhere east of Cypress Road. At Patti Davila PA, we follow projects like McNab Road so our clients understand the street outside, not just the house. In English, Spanish, French or Italian, schedule your concierge consultation and let's talk about what the rebuilt corridor means for your plans.
