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A major roadway near Mar-a-Lago, the Palm Beach residence of President Donald Trump, will be closed indefinitely due to security concerns following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, local officials said.
Palm Beach Police Chief Nicholas Caristo informed town leaders that South Ocean Boulevard and Southern Boulevard would be closed beginning Tuesday morning as a precautionary measure.
“These closures will remain in effect until further notice regardless of whether (Trump) is in residence,” Caristo wrote in an email to the mayor and Town Council.
Police spokesman Sgt. Michael Ogrodnick told the Palm Beach Post that the decision was made in coordination with state, local, and federal partners.
“A decision was made with our state, local, and federal partners this morning that in the best interest of the community, and obviously with the president, we’re going to keep the road closed until further notice,” Ogrodnick said.
He added that there were no specific threats to Palm Beach but emphasized the need to ensure public safety amid global tensions.
According to a notice from the Boca Raton Airport Authority cited by the Post, President Trump is expected to be at Mar-a-Lago from March 6 to March 9, with flight restrictions in place during that period.
“We did that shortly after several attacks in Washington. We shut down Pennsylvania Ave and we shut down surrounding streets,” former Secret Service Agent Tim Miller said. “So this is a normal thing that’s going to follow given the height and security environment we have.”
The news follows previous reports that the Secret Service has expanded its security presence at the White House, Mar-a-Lago and other protected locations nationwide following the escalation of military operations in Iran.
In a statement Saturday, the agency said it is “actively monitoring the situation in Iran” and coordinating with federal and local partners.
“The agency’s protective model is designed to be adaptable to meet the needs of the current security environment and ensure the continued safety of our protectees, protective sites, and the surrounding communities,” the Secret Service said.