A mast-arm traffic signal planned for a busy intersection near Boynton Beach has nearly tripled in cost, forcing Palm Beach County to spend a total of $1.8 million on the project.
County commissioners recently had to transfer $1.2 million to pay for the increased cost of the new signal at Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail. Its costs was estimated at $650,000 when the county approved the project in 2019.
County Administrator Joe Abruzzo said rising costs continue to challenge construction projects. He has been feuding with state Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia over whether the county has overspent tax dollars.
Ingoglia has estimated the county overspent by $344 million this year, based on population and Consumer Price Index growth in recent years. Abruzzo has questioned how Ingoglia reached that conclusion, arguing that it is unfair to use the consumer price index to measure public-sector spending.
The mast arm exemplifies how construction costs have increased at a rate well above the CPI, Abruzzo said, adding: “This is the type of product you are spending a lot of tax dollars on.”
Why a mast-arm traffic signal is complex and costly to build
The mast arm will replace the typical span-wire signal that is at most intersections. The county has been trying replace those at busy intersections with multiple lanes.
They are mounted on a long horizontal pole — the mast arm — that extends over the roadway. A vertical pole is installed along the side of the intersection, and the 30 to 40-foot long arm extends over the lanes. The arm itself, designed to endure hurricane-force winds, can weigh over 1 ton.
Installation requires extensive groundwork and engineered foundations that can reach 50 feet or more. Lane-use signs and detectors are often mounted on the arm to catch speeders and red-light violators.
Abruzzo presented commissioners with a chart showing the sharp rise in component costs. The mast arm alone now costs $371,000, up 56% since 2019.
Commissioner Gregg Weiss stressed the need for public awareness of rising construction costs. The overall increase since 2022 for the entire project was 59%. And Abruzzo noted there is no sign that the increases are letting up.
Property tax revenue will not be used to pay for the work. It will be one of the last projects to be funded with the 1-cent infrastructure surtax that expired Dec. 31. It raised $2.7 billion during the 10 years the county imposed it. Much of the money went toward improve county roadways.
The county is still acquiring land through eminent domain at the Hypoluxo Road and Military Trail intersection to allow the project to move forward, which is expected to take six to eight months. And then it could take another 10 months to build the traffic signal.
Supply-chain issues, high labor costs and inflation have created problems for county construction projects since the COVID-19 pandemic. The county has had to delay multiple projects for more than a year to allow for increased costs to be met. Among those that met with delays are:
To avoid county tax rate increases and to fund the increased cost of construction projects, county commissioners have had to dip into reserves, a move that county budget officials have warned could harm the county’s bond rating. A lower bond rating may make it more expensive to borrow money.
Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County cost for traffic signal nearly triples to $1.8 million
Reporting by Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
