The Department of Transportation District One announces a hearing to which all persons are invited.
DATE AND TIME: Thursday, January 14, 2010, Open House: 6:00 p.m.; Formal Presentation, 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Hardee County Agri Civic Center, 515 Civic Center Drive, Wauchula, Florida
GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: This is a Design Change Reevaluation public hearing. The hearing is being held to allow interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning proposed design changes for the widening of US 17 in Hardee County.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study that was approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on July 11, 2006. The limits of the PD&E study extended from the DeSoto/Hardee County line to Third Avenue in Zolfo Springs.
In 2008, FDOT began conducting a design change reevaluation for Segment 1 of the original PD&E Study, from the DeSoto/Hardee County Line to just north of Charlie Creek. The design change reevaluation proposes using railroad right-of-way previously purchased by FDOT to implement a one-way pair system around the Brookside Bluffs Condominium Association and the Bluffs Golf Course. The one-way pair system will be constructed in two phases. The northbound lanes of US 17 were to be constructed within the railroad right-of-way and the southbound lanes of US 17 will be on the existing US 17 lanes.
A public hearing was held in conjunction with the design change reevaluation on December 15, 2008, in Hardee County. Based on comments received from the hearing and a request for additional information from the Federal Highway Administration, additional analysis has been conducted on the northbound lanes of the proposed US 17 one-way pair, to optimize the placement of a noise barrier and to minimize the impacts of the northbound lanes to the Brookside Bluffs Condominium Association and the Bluffs Golf Course. The horizontal alignment has, therefore, been shifted further to the east and will require right-of-way in addition to the existing railroad right-of-way previously analyzed.
A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting: Tony Sherrard, Project Manager, FDOT District One at (863)519-2304, e-mail: antone.sherrard@dot.state.fl.us or by writing: Post Office Box 1249, Bartow, Florida 33831.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least seven (7) days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Tony Sherrard, Project Manager, FDOT District One at (863)519-2304, e-mail: antone.sherrard@dot.state.fl.us, or by writing: Post Office Box 1249, Bartow, Florida 33831. Persons who require translation services (free of charge) should also contact: Tony Sherrard, Project Manager, FDOT District One at (863)519-2304, e-mail: antone.sherrard@dot.state.fl.us or by writing: Post Office Box 1249, Bartow, Florida 33831, at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).