MIDDLEBURG – Residents of Live Oak Lane met with Commissioner Betsy Condon and Clay County officials to discuss funding for long-needed improvements to Live Oak Lane.

Some residents along Live Oak requested the funding, but paving the road will also come with caveats that not all residents like. The county must acquire 20 feet of property parallel to the street. The required footage is within an easement on each property that runs along the road designated for electrical lines.

The county received grant monies from the state during the past few years earmarked for The Northeast Florida Trailway System, which kickstarted comprehensive engineering and research.

Subsequent funding cycles further fueled progress, culminating in the construction of the eagerly-anticipated multi-use trail, which intersects with Live Oak Lane, providing a crucial window of time to allow for the funding of the unpaved rural road.

“Without the grant funding and some (money) kicked in by your County Commissioners, Live Oak would probably not be near the top of the list to get paid,” said Chereese Stewart, Assistant County Manager.

The project hopes to start in September as long as property owners purchase necessary rights-of-ways. That timeline also depends on the Board of County Commissioners’ approval of additional monies required to supplement the state grant, which would likely come out of the Capital Improvement Fund.

The county would like to secure the rest of the funds before the new Fiscal Year on Oct. 1.

Stewart expressed gratitude for the state legislature’s funding commitment and underscored the county’s responsibility to optimize the resources at the right time. She discussed financial constraints and said that the grant received from the State Legislature would fall short of the total project cost.

She also said escalating costs of construction materials and conveyed the importance of utilizing the grant funds so that the county could finally complete the critical infrastructure project.

Bobby Jamieson, Transportation Engineer with HDR, and Richard Smith, Engineering Director for the county, shared information on design plans and answered questions from the community, with Jamieson demonstrating particularly meticulous knowledge of project details.

He said his team conducted a comprehensive design study and thoroughly examined property deeds and legal descriptions.

The efforts were crucial in establishing precise property and right-of-way lines to ensure compliance with county and state requirements. The proposed design for the road guarantees a two-lane paved road that adheres to specific criteria of the SUN Trail, which would connect Gold Head State Park to Cecil Field.

One major factor will be drainage. Jamieson said having an effective drainage system that directs water away from homes would be essential to prevent flooding and safeguard residents’ homes. The design team conducted thorough assessments of terrain and soil conditions to ensure the infrastructure cooperates with the natural environment.

The design team outlined plans to accommodate a variety of trail users, including pedestrians, cyclists and equestrian riders. A shared-use path will be established on the east side of South Jennings Road to optimize safety and connivance by positioning the pavement on the west side, enabling all using the road and sidewalk to coexist. The design addresses ease of use for nearby destinations, such as Jennings State Forest, the pavilion and restrooms.

A Clay County Sherriff’s Office representative said the speed limit would be set at 35 mph to prevent speeding.

Another Live Oak Lane project update will be delivered during the next Board of County Commissioners meeting on July 25. At that meeting, there will be a presentation on criteria for dirt roads and evacuation routes.