An agreement to transfer 16 miles of county road to the state highway system that was approved by the county commission this month is expected to save Indian River County millions of dollars in future repaving and maintenance costs and could speed up the widening of route 510 from two lanes to four lanes.
The agreement transfers to the state a 5.9-mile section of County Road 510 stretching from County Road 512 east to U.S. 1; a 2.5-mile section of CR-512 from the intersection of CR-510 west to the I-95 interchange; and a 7.8-mile section of County Road 606, also known as Oslo Road, from U.S. 1 west to the new I-95 interchange.
Giving the roads to the state shifts responsibility for maintaining and resurfacing the roads, as well as future improvements, to the Florida Department of Transportation, saving the county millions of dollars, said Brian Freeman, staff director for the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The current cost for milling and resurfacing a four-lane divided road is $1.4 million per mile, a number likely to increase in the future. Millions that would have gone to maintaining the 16 miles of transferred roadway will be available for other projects instead, Freeman said.
“This is great news for residents of Indian River County,” he added. “The county and FDOT have had a very productive and collaborative relationship for many years. We’re very grateful for this transfer.”
FDOT currently has 10 roadway improvement projects planned for these sections of the three roads, which are designed to increase east-west connectivity and interstate access.
Taking possession of the roads benefits FDOT by simplifying bookkeeping, permitting and workflow planning. The transfer will also enable FDOT to tap into federal gas-tax revenue streams – funds that cannot be used to maintain or resurface county roads.
Other than new signs designating the roads as state highways, motorists won’t notice much difference, Freeman said. The state will take over mowing grass along the shoulders and medians, but any necessary future landscaping will be the county’s responsibility.
Property owners and developers will need to obtain permits from FDOT, instead of the county, if they wish to add driveways or other entrances to properties, Freeman said.
Commissioners hope the state takeover will accelerate improvement projects, such as the widening of CR-510. Phase 1 of that project began on Oct. 29 and will widen the road from the intersection of CR-512 south to just past 87th Street.
Besides changing the two-lane undivided roadway to a four-lane divided highway, contractors will create 7-foot-wide buffered bicycle lanes and 6-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the highway.
In addition, a retention pond and GoLine bus transfer facility with parking for six buses will be built just north of Sebastian River High School.
The Phase 1 cost is $24.89 million, with completion slated for late 2028.
Plans call for widening the rest of route 510 in the future, said Freeman said, who hopes that work will happen sooner due to the road transfer.
The transfer agreement still needs to be approved by FDOT District 4 in Fort Lauderdale. Then it goes to the FDOT Secretary in Tallahassee for final approval. That will take several months, Freeman said.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
