Florida DOT programs major SR 710 construction segments for Martin, eastern Okeechobee counties

Florida Department of Transportation staff told the Martin County MPO on Oct. 27 that multiple segments of State Road 710 have been programmed for construction in the department's draft five‑year work program and that design and right‑of‑way phases for every segment are funded.

Cesar Martinez, district planning and environmental administrator, said the corridor has five segments and that construction funding appears in fiscal years 2029–2031. "All design phases for all projects or for all segments and the right of way phases are funded," Martinez said during the presentation. For example, Martinez listed a $6,900,000 construction allocation for a realignment (segment A/E), $2,200,000 for a small Okeechobee segment and $300,000 for construction engineering and inspection; segment B showed $173,400,000 in construction and $20,000,000 for construction engineering and inspection; segment C showed $86,800,000 and $18,100,000 for construction and CEI; and segment D showed $17,200,000 and $1,800,000 for CEI.

FDOT District 4 Secretary Steve Braun framed the work program as part of a broader statewide portfolio, saying safety and resiliency are DOT priorities. "Communities, at the centre of that compass, and then the true north on that compass is safety," he said.

Board members and residents emphasized safety on SR 710. Commissioner Stacy Hetherington thanked DOT for the project funding and pressed DOT staff about signalization at the Allapattah Road (County Road 609) intersection. "If you think about it…there's been a number of crashes. It's probably one of the most dangerous intersections," Hetherington said, asking DOT to consider accelerating a traffic signal or other short‑term safety measures. Vanita Saini, a DOT project manager, said staff are conducting traffic analyses and that the signal warrant study and environmental reviews are part of the project process.

Mayor Carmine DePaulo and resident public commenters also described recent fatalities and crashes along SR 710 and urged the board and DOT to expedite work where possible. "It is important that that road get done," DePaulo said, adding requests to move projects faster when feasible.

DOT staff also identified several corridor projects that remain unfunded or in earlier phases, such as Cove Road widening (construction unfunded), Palm City Road pedestrian and bicycle improvements (unfunded), and others listed as Local Agency Program candidates. Martinez told the board that less than the full corridor — small pieces and outstanding segments in neighboring districts — remain to be completed and that the partner district in Okeechobee will program remaining construction after the Martin County segments.

Board members raised other near‑term concerns tied to resurfacing and shoulder work, including power poles close to the roadway at the 710‑to‑Morgan Street area; Hetherington asked FDOT to coordinate with FPL on moving poles farther from the roadway as part of resurfacing and shoulder‑widening scopes.

What’s decided: DOT presented a draft tentative work program that, as shown to the MPO, programs construction of multiple SR 710 segments in FY 2029–2031 and funds design and right‑of‑way phases for all segments. Several related projects remain unfunded for construction and will proceed through the project development and design phases. Board members and the public requested that DOT continue analyses of signal warrants at Allapattah/609 and pursue pole relocation as part of future resurfacing or widening efforts.

What’s next: DOT project teams will continue project‑level design and environmental work and follow up with board members and constituents. Several board members asked staff to coordinate and bring project‑level updates when design milestones or public meetings occur.

Ending: The SR 710 funding announcement drew sustained public and board attention because of recent crashes. DOT and MPO staff said they would continue coordination on project details, public meetings and design refinements.