DANIA BEACH, Fla. – The Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge is scheduled to reopen Wednesday afternoon after it was closed in January for renovations.
The bridge was initially scheduled to reopen last month, but officials said more work needed to be done.
The reopening was delayed after Quinn Construction discovered several mechanical and electrical components that required replacement or more extensive repairs than were originally determined, according to officials with knowledge of the $5.75 million project.
The contractor said it recruited additional workers to work around the clock to finish repairs. The company was fined for the delay.
The bridge has a renovated tender house, a new bike riding surface, sidewalks, decking and guardrails and a fresh coat of paint, but nearby business owners told Local 10 News that they've lost big business due to the construction.
"We've probably lost 40 to 50 percent of our business in the past three months (and) it's been frustrating," Abigail Harlan from Jimbo's Sandbar said.
"It's supposed to reopen today. What do you think looking at the construction behind you?" Local 10 News reporter Ben Kennedy asked.
"I'm hopeful that it opens," Harlan said.
The bridge has been closed since Jan. 12.