MIDDLEBURG – Clay County’s Bonded Transportation Program Project No. 1, which is the widening of a 2.7-mile stretch of County Road 218 from Pine Tree Lane to Cosmos Avenue, will officially break ground the week of April 25, with land clearing operations for four stormwater ponds.

Clearing and grubbing operations will run on weekdays from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Work is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete, weather and field conditions permitting. The land clearing debris will be disposed of onsite through permitted daytime burning operations.

The four ponds are about two acres in size each and will be approximately 14 feet deep. Stormwater ponds are critical components of any road project because they collect stormwater runoff from impermeable surfaces and hold it temporarily as sediment and other pollutants are degraded by natural environmental processes. This allows for cleaner water to be absorbed into the soil and taken up by trees or plants, or flow naturally into rivers, streams, or wetlands. 

This section of CR Road 218 will be widened from two lanes to four and include medians, turn lanes, curbs, gutters, sidewalks and bike lanes. Road construction on this $21.12 million project is scheduled to begin this fall with estimated completion in fall 2024. Anderson Columbia was awarded the contract for the project.

“Clay County’s Bonded Transportation Program was initiated in response to the County’s current and projected growth rates, and to address roadways identified by the Transportation Planning Organization as being critical and deficient, based on current and future capacity,” Clay County Commission Chairman Wayne Bolla said. “Commissioners are glad to see these needed road improvements underway, which will alleviate much of the congestion on our local roadways.”

For more information on Clay County’s Bonded Transportation Program visit https://www.claycountygov.com/government/bonded-transportation-program.