logo
Living in a work zone: Jacksonville Beach locals sound off on 900-day project

Living in a work zone: Jacksonville Beach locals sound off on 900-day project

Yahoo14-05-2025

A major infrastructure overhaul in Jacksonville Beach is shaking up more than just the streets.
It's part of a 900-day construction project that aims to improve drainage, sidewalks and roadways — but for some residents, it's become a long and dusty nightmare.
The city said the work is necessary to upgrade aging infrastructure, especially east of A1A, where flooding has long been an issue.
Crews are currently working near First Street South and Sixth Avenue South, as well as on Seventh, Eighth and Ninth avenues south.
Mayor Chris Hoffman is asking residents for patience.
'We do ask impacted residents and businesses to be patient … but in the end, they're going to see better drainage, better paving, and better parking,' Hoffman said.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
But patience is wearing thin for residents like Mike Meiners, who said the construction damaged parts of his property.
'I had nice landscaping here. They ripped it all out. They shot some concrete through the wall,' Meiners said. 'I'm hoping they'll fix my wall.'
Brin Balcom, who lives nearby, said the biggest issue for her has been the dust. She said her SUV was covered in a thick layer of dirt before recent rain helped wash it off.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
'It's a little frustrating, but I mean it's going to be a nice road,' Balcom said. 'They're going to pave it. So, I'll hang in there.'
The $30 million project is expected to be completed by early 2026 — nearly 200 days ahead of schedule, according to the mayor.
City officials say residents will be notified in advance of any service interruptions or road closures. In the meantime, drivers and neighbors are encouraged to plan for detours and delays.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

FIRST ALERT WEATHER: More scattered storms today
FIRST ALERT WEATHER: More scattered storms today

Yahoo

time11 hours ago

  • Yahoo

FIRST ALERT WEATHER: More scattered storms today

This morning is dry and mild with temperatures in the low 70s across NE FL and upper 60s across SE GA. Heat and humidity continue today with highs largely in the low 90s and feels like temperatures near 100. The Atlantic sea breeze will be more active today and push farther inland. This means that storms will gradually be shifting inland once they develop, and the focus for greatest thunderstorm coverage today will be along/west of Highway 301 by the mid-late afternoon. Hazards in storms will be heavy rain, frequent lightning, strong wind gusts, and small hail. This pattern continues for the remainder of the week with greatest storm coverage inland. TROPICS: No areas of concern. TODAY: Partly cloudy with scattered afternoon thunderstorms shifting inland. HIGH: 92 TONIGHT: Inland shower/storm early, then partly cloudy. LOW: 73 THURSDAY: Partly cloudy with scattered afternoon thunderstorms shifting inland. 73/91 FRIDAY: Partly cloudy with a few inland storms. 72/91 SATURDAY: Partly cloudy with a few inland storms. 73/91 SUNDAY: Partly cloudy with a few storms.73/92 MONDAY: Partly cloudy with a few afternoon storms. 74/93 TUESDAY: Partly cloudy with a few afternoon storms. 74/93 >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.

FHP warns Duval County wildfire may cause visibility problems on US-17
FHP warns Duval County wildfire may cause visibility problems on US-17

Yahoo

time17 hours ago

  • Yahoo

FHP warns Duval County wildfire may cause visibility problems on US-17

The Florida Highway Patrol issued an advisory to drivers Tuesday night in response to a wildfire burning in northern Duval County. Just before 10 P.M., FHP said a 3-acre wildfire was burning near US-17 and Yellow Bluff Road. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Officials said it may cause visibility issues on US-17 through the night and into the morning hours. Drivers are reminded to slow down and use their low-beam headlights if experiencing serious visibility problems in the area. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Clay County Schools faces $10M budget hole ahead of new school year
Clay County Schools faces $10M budget hole ahead of new school year

Yahoo

time21 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Clay County Schools faces $10M budget hole ahead of new school year

Clay County Schools Superintendent David Broskie says the district is facing a $10 million budget shortfall heading into the 2025-2026 school year. 'Right now, the county's costs are more than the money that we make,' the superintendent shared. In a May workshop meeting, the county leader named inflation, uncertainty with the state budget, and decreased enrollment as some reasons the county is facing a loss. The superintendent's budget presentation showed 500 fewer students enrolled in the county, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. 'So if you look at it... The difference of about 500 students... you're looking at about 4 million dollars just there,' Broskie said. The report also detailed the millions of dollars in local and state funds going towards Family Empowerment Scholarships (FES), or private school vouchers. Related: Mayor Deegan signs resolution calling on Florida to continue funding advanced courses It's something the superintendent named as another contributor to the county's budget deficit. In fiscal year 2024- 2025, over $24.3 million in aid went towards the vouchers. That's a jump from the $16.8 million that local and state governments paid out in FY 2023-2024. By the next fiscal year, the superintendent said that early estimates show that number will increase to $30 million. To better manage the county's budget, district leaders are reviewing all district and school allocations. The move will affect hundreds of school employees. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Clay County Spokesperson, Terri Dennis, sent Action News Jax this response: 'To proactively manage our resources and align with our projected budget, we have made adjustments to approximately 200 employee allocations. We want to assure our community that all employees impacted by these shifts have been offered new positions for which they are certified or qualified. These opportunities span a variety of roles, including instructional, support, and administrative positions, ensuring that we continue to leverage the talents of our dedicated staff. Superintendent Broskie also says the county is making other adjustments to better manage its resources during this financial challenge, like; Renegotiating district contracts Evaluating the profitability of all district programs Pausing all travel expenses Initiating a hiring freeze Florida lawmakers continue their state budget negotiations in Tallahassee. The legislative session was supposed to end on May 2nd. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store