St. Johns Infrastructure Projects Move Forward Across the County

As a rule, discussions of infrastructure improvements rarely attract a large audience. But the details shared with St. Johns County commissioners earlier this month were Standing Room Only quality presentations.

County staff briefed commissioners on the status of several high-profile projects, including the County Road 2209 extension and International Golf Parkway/State Road 16 intersection, the 2023 pavement management program, the Ponte Vedra nourishment effort and the State Road 207 water reclamation facility. All of the projects are designed to improve the quality of life of county residents and keep pace with growth.

Assistant Growth Management Director Dick D’Souza kicked off the presentation with highlights of the transportation-related projects. He said the CR 2209/International Golf Parkway project represents work on one of the few county-maintained north-south corridors.

The pavement management program comprised work on 46 miles of county roadways and included three levels of surface improvements: full reclamation, milling and resurfacing and rejuvenation. All of the levels are expected to increase the life of the roadways and improve safety.

“They are paid for through the transportation trust fund,” D’Souza said.

New team member Neal Shinkre, the county’s interim utilities director, provided an update on the SR 207 water reclamation facility, which he said was undertaken to meet growth demands.

The $180 million project is being done in two phases and has environmental goals as well as growth-related priorities.

“Protecting the Matanzas River has been our key focus,” he said. “Really, our commitment to water conservation keeps going.”

Shinkre said the water treatment plant will be a state-of-the-art facility and provide service to more than 11,000 residents as well as account for more commercial and industrial growth in the area.

“This is really something fantastic,” he said. “This facility will also conserve about 80 acres.”

Commissioner Henry Dean said the water treatment plant presentation was “the most exciting part of today’s meeting.”

Dean said the new facility offers the county a two-for-one deal by not only reducing contaminated discharges into the Matanzas River but reducing demand for fresh water for agricultural and residential watering needs.

“If we follow the bouncing ball, we hae some issues with our water supply long term,” he said.