ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Plantation Oaks Boulevard is set to open Wednesday ahead of schedule after an emergency culvert repair that shut down a portion of the road since Jan. 29.
The road is opening on the 43rd day of a 60-day contract.
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The culvert is a tunnel that carries a stream under the road near the overpass of Branan Field Road.
During a routine inspection, Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) staff found a deficiency in the concrete culvert, which was built by a private developer in 2002. A section of roadway was closed to motorists and pedestrians to ensure the safety of the public.
Students who walked to school from nearby Oakleaf communities had been had to be bused by the Clay County School District.
FDOT sought competitive bids and secured a contract the following week with Superior Construction Company of Jacksonville to complete the culvert repair within 60 days for $1,144,000. Superior earned an additional $200,000 incentive provided for opening the road within 45 days. The emergency repair is funded through FDOT's maintenance budget.