McNab Road Bridge Closure: What Imperial Point and Pompano Beach Boaters Need to Know

Insights from Josh & Karla Ziegelbaum – Ziegelbaum Group at Compass

If you boat through the McNab Road Bridge waterway — whether you keep your vessel in Imperial Point, the Pompano Beach canals, or anywhere along this stretch of the waterway — there is an important update you need to know about before July 22, 2026.

The City of Pompano Beach has announced that the waterway beneath the McNab Road Bridge will be subject to a 10-day navigation restriction beginning July 22, 2026, as part of the ongoing McNab Road Streetscape and Bridge Replacement Project. During this window, the channel will be limited to support critical construction activities directly above the waterway.

Here is everything boaters and waterfront property owners in Imperial Point, Pompano Beach, and the surrounding canal communities need to know.

For the most current and complete project details, visit the official City of Pompano Beach project page: pompanobeachfl.gov/government/go-bond/mcnab-road-plans

1. What Is Happening and When

The McNab Road Bridge — originally constructed in 1959 and a critical east-west crossing connecting Imperial Point in Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach — is currently undergoing full demolition and reconstruction as part of Pompano Beach’s voter-approved G.O. Pompano! bond initiative.

The overall bridge and road closure for vehicle traffic began April 13, 2026, with a full reopening to traffic scheduled for October 1, 2026.

For boaters specifically, the City of Pompano Beach — working in coordination with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) — revised its original plan following community feedback. The waterway will remain open to marine access at all times, with navigation limited to a single open lane to safely accommodate construction activities.

Beginning July 22, 2026, a 10-day restricted navigation period is scheduled during which construction activities directly above the waterway will require additional safety protocols. Boaters should plan accordingly and monitor the official city page for any updates or changes to this schedule.

2. Who Is Affected

This navigation restriction directly affects:

• Boat owners whose vessels are docked in Imperial Point canal-front homes and need to navigate north through the McNab Road waterway
• Boaters in Pompano Beach canal communities — including Garden Isles, Harbor Village, Santa Barbara Estates, and Cypress Point — who use this waterway as part of their regular navigation route
• Vessels transiting between Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach through this section of the inland waterway system
• Waterfront property owners along the affected canal corridor who may experience temporary limitations on vessel movement

If you keep your boat docked at a home south of the McNab Road Bridge — in the Imperial Point area — and your regular route to the Intracoastal or ocean takes you north through this channel, this restriction applies to you during the 10-day window.

3. Why the Channel Must Have Restricted Navigation

The McNab Road Bridge replacement is not routine maintenance. It is a comprehensive infrastructure replacement of a structure that has served this community since 1959 — well past its designed lifespan.

The project spans McNab Road from South Cypress Road to Federal Highway and includes comprehensive upgrades to modernize aging infrastructure and improve mobility for all users, addressing long-standing challenges such as narrow sidewalks, outdated utilities, and flooding concerns.

The specific 10-day navigation restriction beginning July 22 is tied to the most structurally intensive phase of bridge construction — when demolition or placement of structural elements directly above the waterway requires a clear and controlled safety zone below. The City and SFWMD have worked to minimize the impact on the boating community, which is why the single-lane waterway access was approved throughout the broader project period rather than implementing a full closure.

4. The Long-Term Bridge Improvements — What Boaters Are Getting

This is the part of the story that matters most for waterfront property owners and boaters in Imperial Point and Pompano Beach — and it is genuinely good news.

The new bridge will be raised approximately 4 feet higher than the existing structure, providing increased clearance to improve safety and allow better access for boaters.

The current McNab Road Bridge has long been a subject of concern in the Imperial Point boating community. Its limited clearance has restricted the size and type of vessels that can navigate this waterway — a real-world constraint that affects how owners use their boats and how buyers evaluate waterfront properties along this canal corridor.

The new bridge will deliver:

• Approximately 4 feet of additional vertical clearance for vessels navigating the waterway
• A modern structural design with a projected lifespan of 50+ years — replacing a bridge built in 1959
• Improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the McNab Road corridor
• Enhanced stormwater, water, wastewater, and gas infrastructure beneath the roadway
• Better flood resilience through improved drainage and utility systems
• A safer, more connected corridor for all users — drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and boaters

For boaters who have been navigating around this clearance limitation for years, the completion of this project represents a meaningful long-term improvement to the waterway.

5. Impact on Waterfront Residents in Imperial Point and Pompano Beach

For waterfront homeowners in Imperial Point and the Pompano Beach canal communities, this project touches daily life in two ways — one temporary, one permanent.

Short-Term

The 10-day restricted navigation window beginning July 22 will require boaters who regularly transit this channel to plan alternative routes or pause non-essential vessel movements during this period. The City is maintaining single-lane waterway access throughout the broader construction period, and official notices will be posted at pompanobeachfl.gov/government/go-bond/mcnab-road-plans as conditions evolve.

Road traffic detours remain in place through October 1, 2026. Through-traffic is being rerouted via Federal Highway and Cypress Creek Road, with Atlantic Boulevard to the north and 62nd Street to the south as available alternate routes.

Long-Term

Once complete, the new bridge will meaningfully improve the navigational profile of this waterway corridor. For Imperial Point residents in particular — many of whom have lived with this bridge’s clearance limitations for years — the finished project represents a genuine infrastructure upgrade that benefits the boating lifestyle that defines so much of what makes this neighborhood valuable.

6. How Bridge Clearance Affects Waterfront Property Value

This section matters whether you are a current waterfront homeowner, a buyer evaluating properties in this corridor, or an investor thinking about the long-term trajectory of Imperial Point and Pompano Beach waterfront real estate.

Bridge clearance is one of the most consequential — and most overlooked — variables in waterfront real estate. As we covered in our complete buyer’s guide, the difference between a property with unrestricted boating access and one behind a limiting fixed bridge can be significant in both lifestyle and long-term value.

Read our full guide: Deep Water, No Fixed Bridges and Dockage: A Luxury Buyer’s Guide to Fort Lauderdale Waterfront Homes

The McNab Road Bridge replacement is relevant to this conversation in a specific way: the addition of approximately 4 feet of vertical clearance will expand the range of vessels that can navigate this waterway. For waterfront homeowners on canals that connect to and through the McNab Road waterway, this is a direct improvement to the boating access profile of their property.

For buyers evaluating waterfront homes in Imperial Point and Pompano Beach:

• Always confirm the specific bridge clearances on your navigation route — not just at McNab Road, but along every fixed bridge between the property and open water
• Understand your vessel’s air draft requirements and verify them against every bridge on your route
• The McNab Road improvement is a positive long-term development for this waterway corridor — but it is one of several factors to evaluate in any waterfront purchase decision
• Water depth, seawall condition, dock configuration, and ocean access route all remain critical evaluation points regardless of bridge clearance improvements

For our complete Imperial Point neighborhood guide including waterfront access context, read: Imperial Point Fort Lauderdale: Complete Neighborhood Guide (2026)

What Boaters Should Do Right Now

• ✅ Mark July 22–August 1, 2026 on your calendar as the 10-day restricted navigation window
• ✅ Check the official project page at pompanobeachfl.gov/government/go-bond/mcnab-road-plans for any schedule updates or changes
• ✅ Plan alternative routes if you need to move your vessel during the restriction window
• ✅ Monitor official notices — the City has committed to posting regular updates for boaters throughout the construction period
• ✅ Contact the City of Pompano Beach directly with any specific questions about your navigation route or dock access

Frequently Asked Questions: McNab Road Bridge and Boating Access

Can boats pass under the McNab Road Bridge during construction?

Yes — with restrictions. Following coordination between the City of Pompano Beach and the South Florida Water Management District, the waterway has been revised to remain open to marine traffic throughout the construction period, limited to a single open lane. A 10-day restricted navigation period beginning July 22, 2026 will impose additional limitations. Check the official project page for the most current status.

When will the McNab Road Bridge reopen?

The bridge is scheduled to reopen to vehicle traffic on October 1, 2026. The waterway will remain accessible to marine traffic throughout construction, subject to the restrictions noted above.

How much will the new McNab Road Bridge increase clearance for boaters?

According to the City of Pompano Beach, the new bridge will be raised approximately 4 feet higher than the existing structure, providing meaningfully increased vertical clearance for vessels navigating this waterway.

Does the McNab Road Bridge closure affect Imperial Point boating access?

Yes. The McNab Road Bridge waterway sits on a navigation route used by boaters in Imperial Point and the Pompano Beach canal communities. During the 10-day restricted navigation period beginning July 22, boaters who transit this channel should plan accordingly. The Imperial Point Civic Association has also been tracking and reporting on this project at imperialpoint.org/mcnab-bridge-project.

Will the new bridge help waterfront property values in Imperial Point and Pompano Beach?

The addition of approximately 4 feet of vertical clearance improves the boating access profile of canal-front properties that use this waterway as part of their navigation route. Bridge clearance is a meaningful factor in how waterfront properties are evaluated by serious boat owners and buyers. We do not speculate on specific value impacts — but the infrastructure improvement is a positive long-term development for the waterway corridor.

Where can I get the most current updates on the McNab Road Bridge project?

The official source is the City of Pompano Beach project page: pompanobeachfl.gov/government/go-bond/mcnab-road-plans. The Imperial Point Civic Association is also monitoring and posting updates relevant to Fort Lauderdale residents at imperialpoint.org.

Questions About Waterfront Property in Imperial Point or Pompano Beach?

Ziegelbaum Group at Compass specializes in waterfront and canal-front properties in Imperial Point, Pompano Beach, Coral Ridge, The Landings, and the surrounding East Broward waterway communities. We live in this neighborhood and navigate these waterways — so when questions like this come up, we have context that goes beyond a data sheet.

If you have questions about how this project affects a specific property you own or are considering, we are happy to walk through it with you.

Talk to a Waterfront Property Advisor

Or call or text us directly: 954-540-9119

Contact Ziegelbaum Group at Compass

📞 +1 (954) 540-9119
🌐 ZiegelbaumGroup.com
📩 info@ziegelbaumgroup.com

Josh & Karla Ziegelbaum
Ziegelbaum Group at Compass
Fort Lauderdale Real Estate Advisors
A Modern Approach to Luxury Real Estate