The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has begun work on a resurfacing project on SR-A1A in Flagler Beach, a spokesperson with the Flagler County government announced on Wednesday. The project will be carried out in the coming weeks through much of the busiest area in the city.
The impacted stretch of road runs from South 8th Street near Ripple Coworking to North 18th Street at the north end of the Sea Watch Villa condominium complex. A precise end date for the work was not provided, with current estimates projecting the project will be completed some time in the spring.
Impacts to the community will vary over the course of the project, with the most noticeable change likely being the intermittent lane closures being planned along SR-A1A. Communications personnel from FDOT say that speed limits in work zones will range from 25 to 35 miles per hour. Contractors working on the road say they’ll coordinate with property owners in the affected area to keep interruptions of traffic to a minimum.
Drivers in Flagler Beach can expect electronic signs to appear in the coming weeks, showing the way to alternate routes when road closures become necessary. There will also be some ambient construction noise from the project, the county’s spokesperson says.
Once the resurfacing is complete, a few planned improvements will be installed in the area. Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons will be in place at the SR-A1A cross-streets with South 8th Street, South 3rd Street, SR-100, and North 5th Street. These will give pedestrians more designated areas to cross the road coming to and from the beach. Additionally, a number of pedestrian curb ramps will be installed in order to improve accessibility per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standard.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.