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Buck Road Bridge reopens in east Orange County after multi-year replacement
Summary
The Buck Road Bridge in east Orange County recently reopened after a multi-year replacement that widened the span, added shoulders and sidewalks, upgraded drainage and added lighting to improve pedestrian safety, county staff said.
The Buck Road Bridge in east Orange County recently reopened after a multi-year replacement that widened the span, added shoulders and sidewalks, upgraded drainage and lighting and raised the roadway over the Little Econ River, county staff said.
County staff and a local reporter said the project addressed structural and flooding concerns identified by the Florida Department of Transportation and was funded with a mix of federal, state and county money. Crystal Candy, reporting for Orange TV, named Orange County engineers Kathy Evangelo and Esther Fernandez as key contributors who worked for years to secure funding, permits, right of way and easements for the replacement.
A county project engineer said the original bridge was built in 1955 with treated timber pilings and that, "due to age and deterioration, it needed to be shored up," including temporary pile jackets added while design and other items were completed for the new structure. The engineer said the new bridge is "wider than the old bridge," has shoulders and "sidewalks on both sides of the bridge," and features lighting to improve pedestrian safety.
The replacement also raised the structure over the Little Econ River and included upgraded drainage and stormwater infrastructure in a location the report described as having past flooding issues. A county project manager noted the new sidewalks connect Ralphs Road with Dean Road and said the improvements provide a more reliable connection for drivers and pedestrians as the area grows.
Speaking at the reopening, the project engineer said, "I'm very proud. It's been a long time in progress," and described about six years of work on design, right of way and construction in partnership with county staff. Community members at the opening thanked the project team, the report said.
For more information on Orange County transportation projects, the report directs readers to oocfl.net and the Traffic and Transportation page. "In Orange County, I'm Crystal Candy for Orange TV," the segment concluded.
