Repair work on the County Road 512 washout in Fellsmere has begun. The project is expected to be completed by early to mid-January, ensuring the road is accessible before the Frog Leg Festival starts on January 16th.
Work began on December 19th, focusing on removing the damaged pipe and installing two new 60-inch pipes. According to Addie Javed, Indian River County’s Public Works Director, the broken pipe is nearly a century old.
The washout is located approximately one mile south of the intersection of C.R. 512 and 79th Street. Barricades are currently in place to ensure public safety and prevent access to the unstable road and the resulting crater.
The county is leading the repair project, with the estimated $1 million construction cost expected to be covered by a FEMA grant.
County Road 512 has been severely disrupted for months following Hurricane Milton, with nearly ten miles of the vital roadway connecting Fellsmere and Vero Beach rendered impassable due to storm damage. Due to the closure, residents must now travel 23 miles east and utilize Interstate 95 to reach their destination.
Coordinating repairs proved challenging due to the involvement of multiple agencies with overlapping jurisdiction over this stretch of county road, requiring extensive collaboration to determine the best approach.
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