UPDATE: Netanyahu Lands At FLL. Traffic Issues Span Broward Into Central Palm Beach County.
BY: TRAFFIC CENTER | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE: 1:40 p.m. — Benjamin Netanyahu landed at FLL, not PBI. That created traffic issues on the FL Turnpike this morning and again, FDOT is advising significant traffic delays southbound on the Florida Turnpike as of 1:30 p.m., suggesting the motorcade is on the way back to FLL. We are seeing major delays on FDOT traffic cameras spanning from the Southern Blvd. area of the Florida Turnpike all the way into Broward County. Several exits are closed by Florida Highway Patrol. We expect these issues to continue through 3 p.m. Give yourself lots of extra time if you are heading south on the Florida Turnpike this afternoon.
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Expect significant traffic issues today between Palm Beach International Airport and the Mar-A-Lago compound in Palm Beach, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with former President Donald Trump. The meeting is expected to occur around 11 a.m.
While releasing few details for security reasons, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said deputies will work with the United States Secret Service to ensure that the meeting takes place without protestors or others interfering. Netanyahu is a protest magnet — those who believe the Israeli response to the unprovoked Hamas attack on October 7th is too much continue to stage protests worldwide, including during the Prime Ministers meetings this week in the United States.
Traffic near Mar-A-Lago has been altered ever since Donald Trump initiated his first presidential run. Protestors — and supporters — occasionally try to block access roads in the area. The intensity of protests involving the Israel-Hamas conflict could elevate those protests to a new level, although it’s unclear how many protestors will actually make the effort to get attention in an area that has been challenging to access for years.
Of concern: the Southern Boulevard Bridge that connects the mainland with the island of Palm Beach. Police will be stationed in the area to prevent protestors from blocking access to the bridge. Also of note: Benjamin Netanyahu’s travel from Palm Beach International Airport to Mar-A-Lago.
Expect heavy traffic and police activity between PBI and Mar-A-Lago from morning rush through mid-afternoon Friday. We’ll update if PBSO alerts to any significant protest activity that affects mobility in the area.
