Water improvement project to begin soon on Ponte Vedra Boulevard

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Work is expected to begin soon on a water improvement project along Ponte Vedra Boulevard and be finished in November. The project area is between Corona Road and Pablo Road. It also includes about 800 feet of Solana Road between the boulevard and Rutile Drive.

Actual work on the project will be carried out between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays, during which the boulevard will be reduced to a single lane of traffic in places, according to JEA officials who presented the plan Monday, Jan. 11, before the Ponte Vedra Beach Municipal Service District Board of Trustees.

The duration of the project is 300 days, though a financial incentive has been made to the contractor if it can be completed early.

“The whole objective is to be done with this job in its entirety prior to the 2021 holiday season, which would essentially kick off with Thanksgiving and the other holidays that follow,” said David McDermet, JEA project manager and engineer.

Steel plates will be made available should residents need them to access or exit driveways. The work zone will be entirely cleaned up each day by 6 p.m., at which time both lanes will be open.

There will be no work performed on most JEA holidays or during THE PLAYERS, scheduled for March 5-15.

The project will probably commence at the south end.

The plan is to install a new 12-inch main beneath the northbound lane along the length of the project area, replacing three other pipes that have reached the end of their useful lives, particularly a six-inch line that supplies water to homes on both sides of the street. There have been issues with low water pressure and line breaks.

“That six-inch line, I believe, has been there for more than four decades,” said McDermet. “So, it’s definitely needing to be replaced.”

In all, 9,000 feet of pipeline and 167 water services will be installed.

At the completion of the project, the boulevard will be repaved, and landscaping and driveways in the right-of-way will be restored.

Sprinkler heads, mailbox damage and anything that requires immediate repairs will be done quickly, according to Greg Corcoran, JEA manager for Project Outreach. He encouraged residents to contact JEA at 665-7500 or email projectoutreach@jea.com with any concerns.

“With the number of houses that have been remodeled and rebuilt, that’s the need for this larger water line,” said Board of Trustees treasurer Gary Jurenovich.

There is some concern that parallel roads will see an increase in traffic as motorists seek to avoid the construction. This would include San Juan Drive, Le Master Drive and Rutile Drive. Residents in those areas should receive notifications before work begins.

Residents can see slides from the Jan. 11 presentation and follow the project’s progress at jea.com/pvbwip.