A ceremonial groundbreaking took place for Fort Pierce’s Avenue D Road Improvement Project on Monday, marking the beginning of a project that is expected to significantly improve approximately 1.6 miles of Avenue D from 29th Street to U.S. 1.
The $4.1 million project will be funded through a combination of local and state funding sources, including $1.5 million from state legislative funding, $1.5 million through a contribution from the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency (FPRA), and local infrastructure surtax funding.
Improvements include resurfacing Avenue D from 29th Street to U.S. 1, and reconstruction of ADA-compliant ramps, sidewalk and driveway improvements where needed. Roadway signage and pavement markings will be updated and pedestrian crosswalks improved.
The Avenue D Road Improvement Project is designed to improve the overall corridor experience for residents, businesses, pedestrians and motorists. Vehicle detection systems and signaled intersections will be installed to improve traffic flow, and a new overhead gateway sign will be constructed to welcome residents and visitors to the “historic Lincoln Park neighborhood.”
The roadway and infrastructure improvements are expected to be “substantially” completed in about 180 days. Weather and construction conditions permitted, the entire project is expected to be completed by late fall.
The Avenue D project is likely to be the first of a series of planned investments in the Lincoln Park community. The FPRA and city are in the process of advancing the Lincoln Park Master Plan.
Residents and visitors can expect temporary lane closures and traffic pattern adjustments during the construction period. The city will work with contractors to minimize disruptions and to maintain access for residents, businesses and emergency services when possible.
“We think it will be a real, real plus for this neighborhood,” said Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson, who emceed the groundbreaking ceremony.
Myishea White, state Rep. Dana Trabulsy’s district aide who happens to live in the Lincoln Park community, spoke on her behalf. “I’m so grateful to see the work that she’s done in this community,” said White. “No one can deny the flavor that Avenue D has brought to our community.”
Commissioner Curtis Johnson Jr. also said a few words at the groundbreaking. “Today is about much more than a road improvement project. This project is the first step in a broader vision for the continued investment in Lincoln Park.
“Together the Highwaymen Museum and the revitalization of Avenue D send a clear message Lincoln Park matters, its history matters, its people matter and its future matters. The best days of Avenue D are not behind us they are ahead of us,” Johnson said.
Marcelo Dimitriou, P.E., director of construction services of Culpepper and Terpening, Inc., went over the project, which has already begun. “This will be a great final product for the community,” he said.