County reports $143.8 million spent as bond transportation projects advance

Ed Dendor, the county’s Vonda Transportation program administrator, told the Clay County Board of County Commissioners that the bond transportation program has spent $143,800,000 as of Jan. 6 and provided a month-by-month status update for multiple road and bridge projects.

The update covered six active corridor projects. For Master’s Pit to Pine Tree Lane (Project 1), staff reported removal of old asphalt, drainage installation and driveway demolition; the project is on schedule “with 59% paid out, while 100% of the time has been used,” Dendor said. He said the team is evaluating adjustments to the project schedule and negotiating days owed to the contractor rather than compensatory payments.

County Engineer Richard Smith described County Road 217 bridge work tied to an FDOT grant and said the replacement is roughly a $5–5.5 million project — larger than the $2.5 million grant — with design fees estimated at roughly 10% of construction (about $500,000–$600,000). Smith said the designer selection is targeted around May 1, 2026, and construction bidding is expected in mid-2027.

Dendor also reported progress on County Road 209 (Project 2) and the Sand Ridge Road/roundabout segment (Project 3B). For Project 3B, Kiewit and county staff remain in a schedule dispute; the team said the project is 66% paid and 124% of the allocated time has elapsed. Dendor said the county is building its case with field measurements and photographs to support negotiations with the contractor.

Officials described permitting hold-ups for pond and wetland work (U.S. Army Corps and St. Johns Water Management District filings) and said plan sets will be signed and sealed after permits are issued. Staff forecast completion dates for several vertical and horizontal projects later in 2026 and into 2027, noting that weather, unforeseen underground utilities, and contractor claims have affected schedules.

The presentation included status on a new 32,000-square-foot animal services shelter (67% complete), multiple fire stations (on schedule for late 2026 or spring 2027), a radio tower awaiting a St. Johns permit, and the County Road 220 bridge replacement (decks and railing work underway). Dendor said the county’s capital projects portfolio includes 262 projects with a current total value listed at approximately $208,456,646 and that this fiscal year the capital projects department is managing 81 projects accounting for about $95 million of that total.

The board asked staff to continue negotiating with contractors and to provide updated forecasts; Dendor said staff aims to take advantage of market competitiveness when possible. The board did not take a formal action on the update.

Ending: Staff said they will continue to provide monthly status reports and produce design and bid documents on schedule for the projects noted.