Clay County leaders unveil several road projects amid population boom

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Clay County leaders unveiled several road projects to keep up with population growth Thursday evening.

“There’s a lot of folks that do want to move here,” Ed Dendor, Bond and Transportation Program Administrator for the Board of Clay County Commissioners, said.

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He says the projects will be concentrated in the Lake Asbury, Middleburg and Green Cove Springs areas.

The first project is already underway on County Road 218 from Pine Tree Avenue to Cosmos Avenue. There, crews are turning the two-lane stretch into four lanes, and adding bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

Other projects include State Road 23 to County Road 315, Marilyn Avenue to US 17, County Road 209, Russell, Sandridge, Baxley, and Henley roads and County Road 220.

Dendor says the projects promise to make Clay County safer for drivers and pedestrians.

“Some of them are lane improvements: two to three lanes, two to four lanes. Sidewalk improvements, drainage improvements,” he said.

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Dendor says the projects are part of the county’s bonded transportation program, a proactive approach he says is “getting ahead of the game.”

“We’re able to pay it up front rather than collecting the money and then start building the roadways as the people show up,” Dendor added.

He says the bond is $129 million, which will be paid back through a sales tax fixed between 4 and 5% over 20 years.

“When you’re in these work zones, just watch out for everybody’s sons and daughters that are working there. We want you to travel safely, as well as keep our workers safe,” Dendor said.

Dendor says the county is aiming for the work to be finished in the fall of 2024.

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