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St. Johns County Public Works outlines $462M in CIPs, highlights Summerhaven resiliency, SR‑16 widening and stormwater priorities
Summary
Public Works Director Greg Caldwell told a radio audience the county is managing about 104 capital improvement projects totaling roughly $462 million — $209 million for transportation, $122 million for parks and $31 million for stormwater — and highlighted the FEMA‑funded Summerhaven coastal resiliency project, Hilltop/Kings Estate phased improvements and pursuit of federal funding to widen State Road 16.
Greg Caldwell, director of public works for St. Johns County, joined a radio segment to describe the department’s portfolio and recent work. Caldwell said Public Works currently manages roughly 104 capital improvement projects with a combined budget around $462,000,000: about $209,000,000 for 46 transportation projects, $122,000,000 for 21 parks projects and $31,000,000 for 18 stormwater projects.
Caldwell highlighted recently completed work (including Longleaf Pines Parkway four‑laning and County Road 2209) and projects nearing completion (County Road 210 West and East). He described a multi‑phase Hilltop/Kings Estate Road project designed to bring that corridor to county standards — 12‑foot travel lanes, paved shoulders and sidewalks — and said phase 1 has started but that the work requires substantial right‑of‑way acquisition.
On coastal resiliency, Caldwell described the Summerhaven project, damaged during Hurricane Matthew in 2016, noting the funding mix he reported on air of roughly 75% FEMA, 12.5% state and 12.5% local match; he said permitting, procurement and contractor coordination took years and that the revetment should provide long‑term protection.
Caldwell also discussed State Road 16 near International Golf Parkway, saying the county is pursuing a federal BUILD (or similar federal) grant to fund converting stretches of SR‑16 to four lanes through the IGP area and better connect County Road 22 into SR‑16; he said the state has provided supporting funding and the county’s legislative affairs team is engaged.
Public Works also pointed to a recently completed tactical training facility for the sheriff’s office (indoor training, multi‑story rappel tower, long gun range and driving track) that earned regional recognition; Caldwell credited interagency cooperation and the Northeast Florida Regional Council. The county further emphasized stormwater efforts in Hastings, West Augustine and Saint Augustine South and said it pursues grants and resiliency funding to address frequent storm impacts.
Caldwell closed with operational guidance for spring yard waste (items no longer than 6 feet, not exceeding 50 pounds, and organized for pickup) and a brief exchange about whether cleaned black plastic plant pots are recyclable; the hosts directed listeners to the county’s recycling resources and the SJC Connect app for project details and videos.
