Cindy Swirko @CindySwirko <\/p>\n
The long awaited four-laning of State Road 20 from Hawthorne to Interlachen is set to begin this summer the time of the year when the road is used by many Alachua County residents to get to the Atlantic beaches. <\/p>\n
Troy Roberts, of the Florida Department of Transportation Lake City district office, said the first leg, about 2 miles from Hawthorne to the Putnam County line, will likely start in the summer. The rest, from the county line about 9 miles to Interlachen, will follow. <\/p>\n
Thats almost a $17 million project, Roberts said. It will probably be starting over the summer. As soon as they finish the one in Alachua, they will probably jump on the part in Putnam. <\/p>\n
The stretch is the last two-lane gap of SR 20 between Gainesville and Interlachen. The drive can be frustrating because traffic is often slow on the hilly, curvy road, which has few opportunities for passing. <\/p>\n
Yet the road is typically used by many Gainesville and southern Alachua County residents to get to Crescent Beach, St. Augustine and the Flagler County beaches. <\/p>\n
The only other reasonably direct option and an alternative when construction is underway is taking State Road 26 through Melrose to State Road 100 and then on to Palatka. <\/p>\n
Meanwhile, at the other end of Alachua County, an FDOT resurfacing project is about to get underway in High Springs that could affect commuters from neighboring counties. <\/p>\n
The $2.6 million project involves three separate roads: U.S. 41 from Southeast Sixth Avenue to U.S. 441, U.S. 27 from Northwest Ninth Street to the Columbia County line and Northwest First Street from U.S. 441 to Northwest Ninth Street. <\/p>\n
In addition to milling and resurfacing the roads, work will also include traffic signals, shoulder and curb work improvements, sidewalks, highway signing and other incidental construction. <\/p>\n
An open house on the project will be today from 4 to 6 p.m. at the corner of Southeast Railroad Avenue and U.S. 27, next to the Christmas tree. Flyers and handouts will be available, and FDOT personnel will be there to answer questions. <\/p>\n
Construction is scheduled to begin on Thursday and is expected to completed this summer. <\/p>\n
Crews will work day and night, but lane closures will be only at night, Roberts said. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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More here:<\/p>\n
Main drag to Atlantic beaches getting widened - Gainesville Sun<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cindy Swirko @CindySwirko The long awaited four-laning of State Road 20 from Hawthorne to Interlachen is set to begin this summer the time of the year when the road is used by many Alachua County residents to get to the Atlantic beaches. Troy Roberts, of the Florida Department of Transportation Lake City district office, said the first leg, about 2 miles from Hawthorne to the Putnam County line, will likely start in the summer. The rest, from the county line about 9 miles to Interlachen, will follow Continue reading