Delray Beach Residents Raise Safety Concerns Over Barwick Road Redesign

New $7.8 million construction project features narrow lanes and tight turns, worrying local community.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:02am

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A highly stylized, abstract grid of a single road sign icon rendered in a bold, neon color palette, conceptually representing the community's worries over the redesigned Barwick Road.A vibrant pop art interpretation of a common road sign highlights the safety concerns raised by Delray Beach residents over the new Barwick Road design.West Palm Beach Today

A $7.8 million road construction project along Barwick Road in Delray Beach, Florida has sparked safety concerns among local residents. The new design features lanes that are narrower than before and tighter turns, which some say poses risks for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in the area.

Why it matters

Barwick Road is a major thoroughfare in Delray Beach, connecting residential neighborhoods to commercial areas. Residents are worried the new road layout could lead to more accidents and make the area less safe for all users, especially vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.

The details

The Barwick Road construction project aimed to improve traffic flow and add new bike lanes, but the resulting design has narrowed the vehicle lanes to just 10 feet wide. Residents say the tight turns and lack of buffer space between cars, bikes, and sidewalks creates dangerous conditions that could lead to collisions.

  • The $7.8 million Barwick Road construction project began in early 2026.
  • The new road layout was completed and opened to the public in April 2026.

The players

Delray Beach

A city located in Palm Beach County, Florida, known for its vibrant downtown and beach community.

Barwick Road

A major thoroughfare in Delray Beach that connects residential areas to commercial districts.

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What they’re saying

“The new lanes are so tight, I'm worried my car is going to clip a cyclist or pedestrian. It feels very unsafe, especially for families and older residents in the area.”

— Sarah Thompson, Delray Beach Resident

“I understand the goal was to add bike lanes, but the way they did it has made the whole road feel more dangerous. Something needs to be done before someone gets hurt.”

— Michael Gonzalez, Delray Beach Resident

What’s next

City officials have scheduled a public meeting in May 2026 to discuss potential safety improvements or modifications to the Barwick Road project.

The takeaway

This project highlights the challenges cities face in balancing the needs of different transportation modes. While the intent was to make the road more accessible, the execution has raised valid safety concerns from the local community that the city will need to address.