Atlantic Avenue project parking loss draws pushback as FDOT $5 million launch nears

FERNANDINA BEACH — On-street parking will disappear along portions of Atlantic Avenue as the Florida Department of Transportation adds bike lanes and striped paved shoulders to a $5 million resurfacing and drainage project scheduled to begin next month.

The parking changes drew objections Thursday from residents who said spaces along Atlantic Avenue are heavily used during bicycle races, running events and other activities near Main Beach. Concerns also were raised about the effect on residents and kayakers who use Egans Creek Park.

FDOT lists the overall 1.62-mile project limits as Centre Street to South Fletcher Avenue. The more substantial roadway and drainage construction discussed at the meeting begins in the area of Ninth Street and continues east toward Fletcher Avenue.

One of the biggest changes residents will see is along the edges of Atlantic Avenue.

Project designer Dan McCranie, P.E., of Fernandina Beach-based M&A, a Baxter & Woodman company, said a bicycle lane must be at least 5 feet wide to be designated as a bike lane. McCranie is Baxter & Woodman's Florida Transportation Group Leader. M&A, formerly McCranie & Associates, has provided roadway, drainage and transportation engineering services in Northeast Florida and has worked on numerous FDOT projects.

The paved shoulders will be separated from vehicle lanes by a white stripe, but sections narrower than 5 feet will not carry bicycle symbols identifying them as bike lanes.

Parking now permitted along portions of Atlantic Avenue will be eliminated to make room for the bicycle lanes and paved shoulders.

Linda Johnson, who lives along the corridor, said bicycle and running events can fill the roadside with parked vehicles.

Karen Feltham, who identified herself as an avid cyclist and Atlantic Avenue resident, said she supports bicycle facilities but not at the expense of the existing parking.

Another Atlantic Avenue resident, Melissa Townsend, said she has three parking spaces in front of her home that will disappear under the project.

The loss of parking also prompted questions about access to the kayak launch at Egans Creek Park.

“If you want to unload your kayak, where do you unload it?” Still asked.

McCranie suggested kayakers could unload their boats and equipment near the launch and then move their vehicles to another parking area.

The discussion illustrated the tradeoff along Atlantic Avenue: roadside space now used for parking will instead be dedicated to bicycle lanes and paved shoulders.

The project involves considerably more than resurfacing and bicycle facilities.

Some drainage pipes are as deep as 22 feet. McCranie said FDOT plans to replace pipes where practical and use cured-in-place pipe lining, known as CIPP, in some of the deeper sections.

When asked whether the drainage work would alleviate flooding, McCranie said, “No, it will not.”

Construction also raised concerns among businesses near Main Beach.

Tanner said 105 hotel rooms face Atlantic Avenue.

He said the hotels also are concerned about construction interfering with guests entering and leaving the properties and about the timing of work during busy event and banquet periods.

“We're really trying to stay within quiet hours,” Ray said. “The contractors indicated that they're going to work during the daytime and really minimize the impact to overnight.”

Ray said newly placed asphalt can be driven on within about 15 minutes, allowing driveways and lanes to reopen relatively quickly.

That timing matters to Tanner, who said construction will overlap with one of the hotels' busiest banquet periods and events around Main Beach.

“You may first just start seeing equipment, and then you really start seeing dirt move maybe like a week after that,” Ray said.

Temporary traffic detours are expected at North 11th Street, North 13th Street, South 16th through South 20th streets, Citrona Drive and Wolff Street. Temporary pedestrian detours also are expected at locations along the project.