SEBASTIAN – The reconstruction of Barber Street is expected to be delayed by about 45 days after state officials learned they needed a stormwater permit from the local water management district. The state’s work on the road was supposed to get underway on Feb. 11.
City Manager Al Minner said the Florida Department of Transportation assumed it would not need the permit because the project is mainly resurfacing and funded with federal dollars.
However, St. Johns River Water Management District informed the department that a stormwater permit is indeed needed. FDOT has since filed for the permit, but it could take time before the water agency approves and issues it. “St. Johns capitulated,” Minner told the Sebastian City Council last week.
Despite the 45-day delay, city crews are continuing their portion of the work. Minner said if not for announcing the state’s delay, most residents would not have realized there was an issue.
He also said that FDOT believes the $1.6 million, 3-mile long project will be completed on time, despite the permitting hold up.
The city expects to hold its ribbon cutting ceremony as planned at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17, at the Barber Street Sports Complex.
Barber Street is slated for resurfacing and other improvements along a 3-mile stretch between County Road 512 and Schumann Drive. The project is scheduled to last for about 200 days once started.
Once the state gets started on the project, drivers will be rerouted off Barber Street onto feeder roads. Detours will be posted once they are activated.
As part of the project, the city will be receiving sidewalks on the west side of Barber Street from Sebastian Boulevard (CR 512) to Adams Street.
Barber Street is not being widened as part of the project.
The Barber Street project will be split into four phases. Each phase is scheduled to last three to four months.
Those phases are:
CR 512 to Tulip
Tulip to Rolling Hill
Rolling Hill to Addie
Addie to Schumann (with the exception of the bridge connecting Concha and Joy Haven)
Drivers are encouraged to use the following streets around the construction:
Englar,
Schumann,
George,
Melrose,
Periwinkle,
Rolling Hill,
Laconia
Residents and drivers who have any questions or concerns are asked to contact the Florida Department of Transportation Field Office by visiting 730 C Commerce Center Dr., Sebastian, or call (772) 581-6289; or call Ginny Sieferd, of City of Sebastian, at (772) 388-8222; or City Manager Al Minner at (772) 388-8203.
