Clay County updates bonded transportation projects; program reports $123 million expended

The Clay County Board of County Commissioners received a monthly progress update Tuesday on the countybonded transportation program and related capital projects, including construction, permitting and utility coordination issues that are delaying portions of the work.

The presentation by Ed Dendorf, the countybonded transportation program administrator, covered multiple corridors. County Road 218 work is continuing, with liner placement on a pond site and installation of drainage structures; Dendorf reported the project is on schedule with 39% of contract value paid and 65% of the scheduled time used. On a SeaMark Group 2 segment along County Road 209, crews continued stormwater pipe installation and base placement; that phase is 47% paid and 33% of its time used.

Officials said County Route 220 remains contingent on an Army Corps of Engineers permit; the corpspublic notice period closed and the county expects a Corps decision in the coming weeks. Survey work for proposed pond sites is complete and environmental and geotechnical fieldwork is under way; the project team plans a permit modification if the Corps issues the underlying permit.

Dendorf said a reclaimed-water as-built drawing from Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) conflicted with the countystormwater layout on a separate segment that links to Cannon Road 209B (project 3B). CCUA mobilized its own contractor to relocate its reclaimed line on the south side of Sand Ridge and to relocate a water main on the north side, rather than the county redesigning storm drainage.

Sand Ridge Road resurfacing work is being completed by the contractor at no cost to the county after the earlier work did not meet county specifications, and the resurfacing is being performed mostly at night. On Cathedral Oak Parkway the contractorreported schedule contention: Dendorf said 112% of contract time has elapsed while 96% of contract dollars have been paid; county staff and the contractor continue to negotiate schedule resolution.

WGI, the countyconsultant, is supporting program-wide coordination. Dendorf reported the bonded transportation program has expended $123,000,000 as of June 3.

Commissioners asked program staff about the quality of earlier as-builts and inspection practices; staff noted historical differences between CCUA and county inspection processes and said the agencies now coordinate more closely to reduce future conflicts.

The capital projects team also provided separate updates. Highlights included three new five-bay fire stations in varying stages: Fire Station 22 (Fleming Island) with construction drawings released; Fire Station 12 (Middleburg) with development plans approved and stormwater easement negotiations with CCUA under way; and Fire Station 20 (Green Cove Springs), under construction and about 90% complete with a ribbon-cutting forecast for late summer.

Other work reported: installation of portable buildings at county parks for check-in and workspaces, park court lighting procurements, bridge replacement work on County Road 220, and FDOT resurfacing and diverging-diamond interchange work tied to the First Coast Expressway. FDOT continues to perform much of its work at night; county staff advised motorists to follow new pavement markings and signage as traffic patterns shift.

Dendorf asked commissioners to note that some schedules will be adjusted to acknowledge extended permitting delays and that costs and timelines for certain projects remain under negotiation with contractors.

Ending

County staff said they will continue biweekly status meetings with contractors, pursue the Army Corps permit outcomes, and coordinate with CCUA and consultants to resolve design and utility conflicts. Commissioners did not take a vote on the update; staff will return with contract or schedule change items as needed.