Southern Segment of St. Johns Heritage Parkway to Open Thursday, Milestone Credited To Andy Anderson
By Space Coast Daily // November 1, 2017
construction started in February 2015
ABOVE VIDEO: Construction of the nearly 3.1-mile segment of the St. John’s Heritage Parkway began in February 2015. Traffic will flow on the newest segment of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway beginning Thursday morning, a milestone credited to the cooperative efforts of dozens of local agencies and, in large part, to the steadfast support of former Brevard County Commissioner Andy Anderson.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Traffic will flow on the newest segment of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway beginning Thursday morning, a milestone credited to the cooperative efforts of dozens of local agencies and, in large part, to the steadfast support of former Brevard County Commissioner Andy Anderson.
“I want to take a moment to thank former District 5 County Commissioner Andy Anderson for all the hard work that he did during his term to make this parkway a reality,” said current District 5 Commissioner Kristine Isnardi.
“It is because of his vision and determination that we are celebrating the opening of this roadway.”
Anderson, who served two terms as commissioner from 2008-2016, is economic development administrator for the City of Palm Bay.
He is among many credited for the project, which will eventually link the northern I-95 interchange at Ellis Road in Melbourne and south at Micco Road interchange near Grant-Valkaria.
Thursday’s official opening at 9 a.m. marks the completion of the newest southern segment of the parkway, a 3.1-mile, 2-lane trek that extends from north of Emerson Boulevard to U.S. 192 in West Melbourne.
“I would also like to thank the Palm Bay City Council for its partnership in this project,” Isnardi said.
“They listened to their constituents’ concerns about the traffic and recognized a need for this parkway. Their outstanding work on the first segment of this parkway was praised by the residents of Brevard County and I am happy that we are now able to give the citizens of Palm Bay something else to cheer about!”
Among others credited were the Transportation Planning Organization, Brevard County Public Works, Florida Department of Transportation District 5 Office, former Palm Bay City Manager Sue Hann, former Brevard County Commissioners Helen Voltz and Jackie Colon, Rob Medina, Community and Military Relations director for Congressman Bill Posey, Assistant County Manager John Denninghoff, Brevard County Public Works, and former Assistant County Manager Mel Scott.
Thursday’s opening kicks off with a media event at a designated staging area established on the west side of the parkway’s southbound lane, about a mile south of U.S. 192. Directional signage will be in place.
Opening the newest segment of the parkway marks substantial completion of the $12.5 million project, one of two County projects that eventually will include a 1-mile, 4-lane northern segment that will extend the roadway from US-192 north to just west of the proposed Interstate 95/Ellis Road interchange.
The northern segment is at the 100 percent design phase, and construction will be coordinated with the Florida Department of Transportation’s I-95/Ellis Road interchange.
With the southern segment open to vehicle traffic, motorists in Palm Bay, West Melbourne, Melbourne and unincorporated Brevard will have access to a north-south alternative to the congested Minton Road.
The first segment of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway was a $13.4 million City of Palm Bay project completed in 2015 that included a 2.5-mile link from Malabar Road to just north of Emerson Boulevard. Work on the southern segment began almost immediately after Palm Bay completed its project.
Among major work completed by the County’s contractor, Ranger Construction Industries, included clearing and grubbing, excavation and embankment, optional base and asphalt, concrete sidewalks, drainage structures, signalization and pavement markings.
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