Lazaro Aleman
ECB Publishing, Inc.
As of Monday, April 5, and continuing until the NextEra/Gulf Power electric pole and wire installation project is completed on the Waukeenah Highway, the road will likely be closed to through traffic.
Motorists traveling the road will see electronic signs posted just north of I-10 and U.S. 27, respectively, advising them that only residents residing in the area should use the road, as well as to expect traffic delays.
Timothy Bryant, manager of external affairs and new development for NextEra, informed the Jefferson County Commission of the intended posting of the signs on the highway on Thursday evening, April 1.
Bryant said the reason for the closing of the highway to through traffic was because it was hoped that the reduction of vehicles would minimize the wait times.
“Right now, traffic is getting bottled up,” Bryant said. “We don’t want to cause any more delays than we’re causing.”
A couple of the commissioners suggested putting up detour signs and designating an alternative route as a way to address the problem. But Bryant said that he preferred to hold off on designating a detour unless the circumstances absolutely demanded it.
Commissioner J. T. Surles pressed Bryant to say how long the project might take to complete, so that he could give his constituents an idea when they might see an end to the delays. Bryant, however, declined to speculate, saying that there were too many variables involved to be able to give any accurate timeframe.
He didn’t want to say something that would mislead people, Bryant said, explaining that the weather, availability of equipment and supplies and a host of other variables could influence the project’s timeline.
Construction on the 160kV transmission line began in Jefferson County in mid March, although work had started on other parts of the 176-mile long transmission line earlier in the year. The high-voltage line will traverse Jefferson County east to west, coming from its starting point in Columbia County to its terminus in Jackson County.
Already, much of the right-of-way alongside the south side of the Waukeenah Highway has been cleared and the tall poles installed along certain segments of the road between U.S. 27 and the interstate.
Formally called the North Florida Resiliency Connection, the project aims to enhance the reliability and resiliency of electric service for the residents of North Florida. The line, however, will provide no direct benefit to Jefferson County, other than for property taxes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.