ORANGE PARK, Fla. – Plans for the new Johnson Slough improvement project in Orange Park saw opposition from concerned residents at Tuesday’s town council meeting.
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The $16.9 million project aims to make roadway and bridge improvements at Plainfield Avenue, Nelson Drive, Nelson Drive South and Carnes Street.
It would be the biggest public works project in town history.
The upgrades will address stormwater flood protection and provide navigable crossings for residents.
Residents sounded off about the costs of the improvement.
“My ask is you continue to be good stewards of the town’s money,” We don’t have a lot of revenue coming in," a resident said.
Another resident questioned if the project was necessary.
“Millions and millions of dollars, how many dollars will the county give us when 97% of the people that use those roads don’t live in Orange Park, yet you are going to tax each and every one of us, including yourselves,” the resident said.
Nelson Drive will see a raised-road by approximately 3.25 feet, while Plainfield Avenue will see an approximate 7-foot rise, Nelson Drive South an approx. 6.25-foot rise and Carnes Street an approx. 6-foot rise.
Roadwork will take place in residential neighborhoods, but impact to environmentally sensitive areas will be reduced and public access will still be available.
Other residents understand the concerns, which would be approximately half the bill. A grant will pay the other half.
“Do you think Orange Park taxpayers can afford that? Eight to 10 million dollars?” the resident said.
Judy Walker, a resident, said the county can’t afford it.
“I can understand that, but it does flood,” Walker said.
The project was first proposed back in 2017. The town has begun the design contract with Superior Construction; the initiative is currently at the 60% design phase.
“This is a longtime project for the town,” Interim Town Manager William Whitson said back in December. “It started with the tremendous flooding that occurred during Irma, and it’s taken years to properly plan for it and secure funding.”
Following the presentation by the team, some residents expressed concerns about the project’s high cost.
“How many dollars will the county give us when 97% of the people [who] use those roads do not live in Orange Park?” one resident questioned. “But yet, you folks are going to tax each one of us, including yourselves.”
Another said the project was ambitious but needed a more modest approach.
“We can put a bridge up 8 feet, that’s huge…that’s an ambitious project," a resident said. “And all that does is pick the cars up off the floodplain. But the water’s still there because the lake’s moved in. It’s just lowlands.”
The resident suggested putting in box culverts instead.
Mayor Randy Anderson acknowledged the pushback but said that even during normal rainstorms, the roads face major flooding issues.
He said the project was necessary for resident safety.
“This whole project is about safety for our residents. And I know some people like it; some people don’t. But when it comes down to it, if it saves one life, you pay for it,” Mayor Randy Anderson said.
The project team has plans to meet with the council and discuss ways to reduce costs, which could include reducing structure height and limiting aesthetics.
The city will also host two public workshops to ensure that residents have a chance to be informed about the project. The dates are June 12 at 4:30 p.m. and June 18 at 5:30 p.m.
The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
