Sen. Perry seeking CR 232 rehab funds

State Sen. Keith Perry has filed a funding request to cover the cost of paving a 10-mile stretch of Alachua County portions of County Road 232.

According to a local funding initiative request form submitted to the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners for a signature to move ahead, Perry is requesting $11.5 million to cover the cost of milling 2 to 3 inches and placing and average of 3 inches of asphalt over the surface, widening the road from 10 to 11 feet travel lanes, constructing 6 to 8 feet stabilized shoulders, upgrading the drainage system, and paving current driveways.

The goal of the project is to raise the standard of part of Alachua County’s CR 232 to comply with the Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Constructions and Maintenance known as Florida Greenbook.

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CR 232 traverses through Alachua County and Gilchrist counties in mostly rural areas. A noticeable difference in the pavement occurs right at the Gilchrist County line, where cracks, holes and severe drop-offs with no shoulder are evident.

According to Gilchrist County Administrator Bobby Crosby, the 5.5 miles of CR 232 just west of the Alachua County line was repaved from 2018 to 2020 using FDOT grant funds for rural roads. And the rest of the route from State Highway 47 west to State Road was resurfaced about 10 years ago.

Republican state Sen. Keith Perry

Alachua County Public Works Director Ramon Gavarrete said he hopes the request gains approval.

“I would welcome the funding, if we get it,” he said, adding that the CR 232 project is down the roads priority list and most likely will not be addressed for more than 10 years.

“There are more roads in this county that carry more traffic than 232,” he said.

Gavarrete said this type of funding request is not an arrangement that happens very often, and he is not sure how many are approved.

He said the current status of the portions to the request would address require a major rehab due to environmental distresses and the current Pavement Condition Index (PCI) of 37.5. According to the loan request, PCI 37.5 is considered, “a very poor to failing grade.”

The engineering report created by the Kercher Group consulting firm outlines the project and breaks down cost estimates to County Line to SR 45 (3 miles) as $3,811,920, SR 45 to CR 235 (3.6 miles) as $4,524,240 and CR 235 to CR 241 (3.1 miles) as $2,971,260.

Perry has not returned a request for comment on why he chose CR 232 for a funding request, the chances of the funds being approved, and how soon the project would begin if the funds are secured.

Cement truck driving past Gilchrist County sign on County Road 232

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