The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced that work is expected to begin this month to repair an eroded stretch of U.S. 98 through Mexico Beach. The road was severely damaged during Hurricane Michael storm surge on Oct. 10, 2018, and is crumbing in some areas.
According to the News Herald, construction should begin on the stretch of the road from Saltcreek Bridge to the Gulf County line Feb. 18. Hurricane Michael storm surge washed parts of the road away and even swept the sand out from under the road. While some patchwork repairs have been done, the road continues to erode in some places.
“Construction includes repairs to the roadway and shoulders, drainage improvements, guardrail replacements, and sidewalk reconstruction,” said a press release from FDOT. “Work is estimated to be complete by late 2019.”
The total cost of repairs for the eroded roadway is expected to be $7.6 million and will be funded by the federal government. In addition, FDOT will be working on the entire stretch of U.S. 98 from the Gulf County line to the Franklin County line. The department plans to start with washout prevention operations to strengthen the road against future damages, reported the News Herald.
In neighboring Franklin County, crews are already working on fixing a different section of U.S. 98, which ranges from the Apalachicola Bay Bridge to Ochlockonee Bay Bridge. Debris clearing is currently underway as crews also work on fixing the roadway in shelter reconstruction. All repairs are expected to be completed by late 2019.