Road Widening Project Meeting Provides Few Answers
Residents Are Unhappy With Timing Of The Project
In 2017, Clay County began planning improvements to the section of County Road 220 between Knight Boxx Road and Baxley Road. The project is projected to cost $32 million and take 16 months to complete. The most complex portion of the project is the total replacement of a small bridge that spans Little Black Creek.
Earlier this week, people impacted by the construction had an opportunity to see details of the construction plan and ask questions of county officials. Held at Rideout Elementary, the lunchroom was filled with people eager to express their concerns and learn more about the project.
Leading up to the meeting, comments across various Facebook posts reached a fever pitch. People reacted to the inconvenience and traffic issues they will face for over a year. The project effectively severs a main artery for traffic from Fleming Island and routes that traffic down other roadways that are already congested.
A cavalcade of county elected officials, high-level employees, and the entire traffic division of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office attended the meeting. The traffic deputies were among nearly 20 deputies who attended the meeting.
Several speakers talked about the project and answered questions from the crowd, most notably County Commissioner Kristen Burke. Facing tough questions, Burke didn’t shy away from the fact that the project would cause traffic and disruptions for people in the area.
While Burke showed empathy, the members of the county engineering department re-iterated that the citizens would have to accept the issues and problems that come from construction projects. When repeatedly pressed on the project's timing, the two main reasons for the timing were revealed.
First, the bridge on 220 was built in 1949 and is not stable or structurally sound by modern standards. Assessments have revealed that it may be more prone to failure than acceptable.
Lastly, the portion of the funds coming from the federal government was at risk of being lost, as the project has been delayed at least three times over recent years.
This project could potentially most impact residents of the Ridaught Landing subdivision, which has entrances on 220 and Henley Road. Several residents asked about traffic diverting through the neighborhood due to congestion from the project. The solution planned was to place signs at the neighborhood's entrance indicating the roads were for residents only. The sheriff’s office would not provide traffic enforcement.
Other questions were asked about how the new road would impact the current usage of the areas near it, including a dirt trail used by many to access Little Black Creek. No definitive answers were provided except that the current plan did not allow creek access for cars or pedestrians.
Ultimately, the meeting left many attendees feeling like county and state officials were checking a box and not looking for actual input or feedback from residents.
The project is slated to begin in late November or early December.
Safety should always come first. The bridge is very dangerous.