Construction to Begin on Final Segments of Amelia Island Parkway Trail
Two recent votes by the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners means construction of the remainder of the 3.2-mile Amelia Island Parkway Trail (AIPT) will begin soon. In late February, the commission approved a contract to construct phases three and four of the trail, and on March 10, it approved a contract for segment two.
The county announced all three remaining phases of the trail would go under construction simultaneously. That means — barring further delays — island residents may be able to enjoy the entire multi-use pathway by mid-2026.
The first phase of the AIPT extends from South Fletcher (at Peters Point) to Via Del Rey, the street that marks the entrance to the Fernandina Beach Golf Club. Phase two of the trail extends from Via Del Rey to South 14th Street. Segment three covers South 14th Street to Bailey Road and segment four covers Bailey Road to Eighth Street.
“This trail will be a most welcome addition to our island’s off-road trail system and provide another safe walking, running and cycling venue for our residents and guests,” said Mike Pikula, president of the Friends of the Amelia Island Trail, Inc. “When completed, it will be the culmination of a yearslong coordinated effort by County Commission and staff, the North Florida Transportation Planning Office, local professional designers and builders, and our involved residents.”
Friends of the Amelia Island Trail has been instrumental in lobbying for multimodal trails in Nassau County. The group also has raised funds for trail “extras,” such as rest stops, and helps with trail maintenance, such as by organizing volunteers to pick up trash along the trails.
The AIPT trail is supported by about $8 million in federal funding. The final three segments will be built by CGC, Inc. The company also received the contract for phase one of the trail.
Construction of segment two of the trail was supposed to begin in late 2024. The project was delayed because the county had to issue a second round of solicitation for bids, said Robert T. Companion, deputy county manager and county engineer.
The Amelia Island Parkway Trail is an important cog in the county’s ambitious plan to make Amelia Island bikeable from all directions, Companion said. The AIPT connects to the Amelia Island Trail, which extends from the south end of the island to Peters Point. That trail was completed in 2011. The AIPT and the Amelia Island Trail now connect at the corner of Fletcher and Amelia Island Parkway via a pedestrian crossing.
The county completed construction of the Amelia River to Sea Trail, which runs along Simmons Road, in 2019. Bikers and pedestrians using the AIPT will be able to pick up the Amelia River to Sea Trail at Bailey Road. Signs are posted with information on the trail rules, Companion said, including the 10-mph speed limit. Motorized vehicles are not permitted on the asphalt trails.
“What is key to this (AIPT) trail is it connects the original Amelia Island Trail to the Amelia River to Sea Trail,” he said. “This essentially ties our two big trail projects together.”
The county has secured funding for a trail to run along Will Hardee Road to Sadler Road, and from Sadler to South 14th Street and north to Hickory Street.
“That will give you a trail spine that connects from the south tip of the island all the way up to Hickory,” Companion said.
The city of Fernandina Beach is working with the county and the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization to fund a Schools to Downtown Waterfront Trail. That trail would connect the high school and middle schools at Citrona Avenue to downtown.
“The island is pretty much developed,” Companion said. “We will not be forging new roadways through the island. The idea, besides the trails being recreational, is to find new ways to get people where they need to go. It’s being able to allow people to ride their bike to do an errand or see a friend.”
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