30250631 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

Florida Department of State and Division of Library and Information Services


Notice: 30250631
Notice of Meeting/Workshop Hearing

Division:	Scalar Consulting Group Inc.


Overview



	The Florida Department of Transportation, District One announces a hearing to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME:	IN PERSON: Tuesday, December 16, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m.; VIRTUAL: Thursday, December 18, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

PLACE:	IN PERSON: Indian River State College – Dixon Hendry Campus, 2229 NW 9th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 34972 VIRTUAL: https://tinyurl.com/SR70Hearing

Subject:	The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) invites you to a public hearing for the State Road (S.R.) 70 Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study (FPID 450334-1) from County Road (C.R.) 721 South to C.R. 599/128th Avenue in Highlands and Okeechobee Counties. This hearing is being conducted to present the preferred alternative and all analysis to date, as well as to give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements. You can participate in-person or virtually. The information presented during either format will be the same and all attendees will have opportunity to comment. In-Person Option: Tuesday, December 16, 2025 Indian River State College – Dixon Hendry Campus 2229 NW 9th Avenue, Okeechobee, FL 34972 5:30 – 6:00 p.m.: Open house 6:00 p.m.: Formal presentation and comment Displays will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. to review at your own pace and the project team will be available for discussion. The formal presentation and comment period will begin at 6:00 p.m. Virtual Option: Thursday, December 18, 2025 Register in advance: https://tinyurl.com/SR70Hearing 5:30 p.m.: The project team will be available for discussion 5:45 p.m.: Overview for how to submit comments for the hearing record 6 p.m.: Formal presentation and comment Please review the materials on project webpage before attending the virtual event (https://www.swflroads.com/project/450334-1). Materials will be posted by Tuesday, December 9, 2025. Project documents will be available for public viewing from November 25, 2025 to December 31, 2025, at the Okeechobee Public Library, 206 SW 16th Street, Okeechobee, FL 34974 and at the Florida Department of Transportation, District One, Heartlands Operations Center - Sebring, 4722 Kenilworth Boulevard, Sebring, FL 33870. They will also be available on the project webpage. If you are unable to attend the hearing, comments can also be provided through the project webpage (https://www.swflroads.com/project/450334-1) or by email (Kathern.Cothern@dot.state.fl.us) or mail (FDOT District One, Attn: Kathern Cothern, 801 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830). While comments about the project are accepted at any time, they must be received or postmarked by Wednesday, December 31, 2025, to be included in the formal hearing record. All comments are weighted equally. Questions can be answered by calling the FDOT project manager Kathern Cothern at (863) 519-2331. This proposed project involves the use of properties protected under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The S.R. 70 over Kissimmee River Bridge, Bridge No. 910001 (8HG01236/8OB00336) is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion C in the area of Engineering as an example of a removable span bridge. Based on an evaluation of all PD&E Study alternatives, it is not feasible to keep the historic bridge in place and the proposed improvements require the replacement of this bridge. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) concurred with the findings on July 17, 2024. Subsequently, a Section 106 Case Study was prepared in which the FDOT applied the Criteria of Adverse Effect to this historical property. The SHPO concurred with these findings on September 22, 2025. Local historical societies were contacted on July 21, 2025 to provide information on the adverse effect to the bridge and to request feedback that will be considered for the development of mitigative measures. The proposed undertaking will result in an “adverse effect” to the NRHP-eligible SR 70 over Kissimmee River Bridge, Bridge No. 910001 (8HG01236/8OB00336). Proposed mitigation strategies being discussed include the salvage of the existing bridge plaque and relocation to a new location, an educational exhibit to be placed in close proximity to the bridge location, and a Historic American Engineering Record document. Your input is sought concerning the undertaking’s adverse effect to the resource and proposed mitigation. Persons interested in this project may review the approved Section 106 Case Study on the project website (https://www.swflroads.com/project/450334-1), or at the FDOT District 1 Heartland Operations Center – Sebring and the Okeechobee Public Library. In addition, in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966 and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, FDOT is seeking comments and input from the public, interested parties, and governmental agencies concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features, and attributes of this resource and the mitigation options under consideration for the proposed impacts. FDOT intends to make a programmatic Section 4(f) impact determination for this resource. The proposed improvements are adjacent to the Kissimmee River Public Use Area. As proposed, the project will impact approximately 2.43 acres of property from this recreation area. As part of the project development process and in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, the FDOT is seeking comments from the public concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features and attributes of this recreation area. The FDOT intends to make a de minimis impact determination for this resource. The proposed improvements lie over the National Register of Historic Places-eligible Slough Ditch Canal (C-41A) (8HG01127) and Kissimmee River (C-38 Canal) (8HG01650/8OB00489). The project will construct one new bridge over the Slough Ditch Canal (C-41A) (8HG01127) and two new bridges over the Kissimmee River (C-38 Canal) (8HG01650/8OB00489). As part of the project development process and in accordance with Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966, FDOT is seeking comments from the public concerning the effects of the project on the activities, features, and attributes of these resources. FDOT Office of Environmental Management intends to make de minimis impact determinations for these resources. The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being, or have been, carried out by FDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. §327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022 and executed by FHWA and FDOT.


	A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: FDOT Project Manager, Kathern Cothern, by phone at (863) 519-2331 or by email at Kathern.Cothern@dot.state.fl.us.

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:	12/8/2025 Vol. 51/236


REFERENCE MATERIALS:	No reference(s).

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Overview