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Sistrunk Boulevard To Get A Makeover

FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Construction work is getting underway to transform Sistrunk Boulevard, the center of Ft. Lauderdale's African American community, into a bustling shopping district.

Ground was officially broken Wednesday for the project which has been years in the making. The project, which encompasses Sistrunk Boulevard from Federal Highway to NW 24th Avenue, calls for the narrowing of much of the road from four lanes to three. Wider sidewalks will be installed along with more on-street parking, decorative street lights, new bus shelters and new landscaping. Also, in some areas, unsightly power lines will be relocated underground.

The hope is to transform the road from its current state of vacant lots and abandoned storefronts to a busy business district.

The City of Ft. Lauderdale is footing a majority of the bill ($14.2 million). The rest of the funds come from state and federal grants ($3.7 million) and from the county ($750 thousand).

Planners expect to have the project completed in a little under a year and half.

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