Bonded transportation update: FDOT pledges $1.74 million toward Clay County road projects; teams flag rising construction costs

Ed Dendorp, Bond Transportation Program administrator, told the board the program had advanced several projects to 90% design, continued utility coordination and permitting, and held a public outreach/open house for project number 1 earlier in August.

Dendorp said the county secured FDOT cash contributions for specific projects — $962,484 toward County Road 209 and roughly $777,685 toward County Road 315 — for a combined FDOT contribution of about $1,740,169. He told the board the FDOT funding is expected to be available late in 2023.

Dendorp and staff also warned the board that, consistent with neighboring Northeast Florida counties, the program faces significant forecast increases in commodity, construction and real-estate costs. Staff said teams are reviewing value-engineering results, evaluating guaranteed-maximum-price negotiations for projects, and considering funding options including mobility and impact fees, grants and other sources to help mitigate cost pressures.

An open-house meeting and project outreach is set for Oct. 18 at the Russell Road Baptist Church Auditorium, and staff will return with updated cash flows and financing recommendations as designs and cost estimates further develop.