Alachua County Public Works and the city of Newberry have completed construction of a new roundabout at the intersection of County Road 235 and Newberry Lane, reopening the roadway approximately two weeks ahead of schedule.
The intersection reopened to traffic on Wednesday, according to an Alachua County press release.
The $1.5 million project was jointly funded by Alachua County and the city of Newberry as part of the county’s 10-year Transportation Capital Improvement Program. The project was initiated to address safety concerns identified through a traffic study and recommendations from transportation consulting firm Kimley-Horn.
The roundabout was designed by Alachua County Public Works to accommodate current and projected traffic volumes, including large semitrucks. Construction was completed by the public works maintenance crews, the county’s survey department and Watson Construction.
“Roundabouts are often safer and more efficient than traditional intersections because they keep traffic moving while reducing the likelihood and severity of crashes,” Alachua County Engineer Stuart Cullen said in the press release. “We’re proud of the teamwork that allowed this project to be completed ahead of schedule and under budget.”
Newberry’s growth has led to multiple road projects in recent years.
County officials said the new traffic pattern is expected to improve safety and traffic flow while reducing delays at the intersection.
Motorists are encouraged to use caution and familiarize themselves with the new roundabout as traffic adjusts to the updated intersection design.
The new roundabout at County Road 235 and Newberry Lane may make for a nice ribbon-cutting photo, but it doesn’t change what taxpayers see every day.
Alachua County collects an 11% local fuel tax, charges some of the highest property taxes in Florida, and still leaves county roads full of potholes, broken pavement, failing shoulders, and deferred maintenance. For all that money, much of the road system looks neglected.
Government shouldn’t expect applause for a $1.5 million project while basic maintenance falls behind. Taxpayers want safe, well-maintained roads, not political photo ops.
The county should put existing infrastructure first with a clear maintenance plan: dedicate a fixed share of fuel tax and transportation revenue to preventive work, publish a multi-year pavement schedule, and prioritize repairs by condition, traffic, and safety risk. It should also address shoulders, drainage, and resurfacing before they become costlier failures, set annual performance targets, and report progress publicly. New capital projects should wait until the county has funded a realistic plan to maintain the roads residents already use.