Liberty St/Coastline Dr construction needs more time, funding

Jacksonville, FL — The price tag and time frame to reconstruct Liberty Street and Coastline Drive following a massive 2015 collapse, is now on the rise.

New procurement documents filed with the City of Jacksonville show the contractor is asking for an additional $1,0260221.45. That company, Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC, secured a $24.7 million contract for the Downtown project in July 2016. It’s the first time since the contract was agreed to that there is more funding being sought.

The good news, according to the City of Jacksonville, is that they have already budgeted $31 million for this overhaul, so this new funding request is within the contingency that’s already set aside.

The increase represents several areas, including a decision to replace 36 benches, nine trash cans, and 36 light poles, instead of repairing old ones. Some funding is will also be used for repairing the existing bulkhead wall under Liberty Street and relocating secondary powerlines. There is also $159,484.01 relating to Hurricane Irma- both for the movement of cranes, barges, and other equipment for the storm, as well as post-storm repairs.

There are two areas where some cost savings are being put toward the total price tag, preventing it from climbing higher. The documents show the City getting a more than $74,000 credit relating to changes dealing with a right-of-way, and $110,000 savings from deleting a temporary road from the project- although the later funding has already been reallocated to some landscaping modifications.

In addition to the price tag change, the work will also extend the construction time. The procurement documents show the construction was initially slated for completion this July. The new City schedule now says the final component of the project is scheduled to be done in March 2019.

Liberty Street at Coastline Drive collapsed in February 2015, about three years after a smaller collapse opened up on Liberty Street nearby. The overall rework that the City is taking on includes tearing down the old courthouse parking deck which is bordered by those streets, and rebuilding the roadways. Because the roads are over water, they’re technically considered bridge structures, and the rebuild also includes a new Riverwalk along them.