Over the course of 2024, Alachua County reports finishing $5.61 million in road projects, with another $17.85 million underway. Public Works director and county engineer Ramon Gavarrete said he is hopeful staff can catch up on the county’s priority list in 2025. 

The county announced a list of standout projects from 2024 and planned for 2025 on Monday, but Gavarrete said there is much more work going on than could be highlighted. 

“If our communication department would like to put everything in one graphic, the graphic would be so massive that nobody could understand it,” Gavarrete said in a phone interview. 

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a list of road priorities in late May 2023, which Gavarrete said left Public Works running behind schedule, as there were only seven months left to plow through 2023 projects. 

The road projects were funded by the voter-approved 2022 Wild Spaces Public Places surtax, which runs until 2032, as well as the gas tax, property taxes and grants. Between now and then, the county plans to devote over $250 million to road projects, but the pavement condition index is still expected to decrease from an already-low grade of 60 in 2020, to about 50 by 2032. 

“Investing in our roads is investing in our community’s safety, connectivity, and future. Thanks to the support of our residents and the strategic use of resources, 2024 has been a landmark year for improving Alachua County’s infrastructure,” BOCC Chair Charles Chestnut IV said in a press release. “From neighborhood roads to major thoroughfares, these projects are enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives, works, and travels in our county.” 

Gavarrete said for many years, the county had not pursued road projects, but since May of 2023 its goal has been to put more into that area, and the monetary amount set for 2025 is to be higher than 2024. 

The county has about $21.6 million in projects yet to finish that should be put up for construction in 2025, and another $13.4 million that will be advertised for bids, according to Gavarrete. 

Gavarrete said people’s complaints about the roads are legitimate, but he is thankful that voters passed the infrastructure tax in 2022. 

“We’re not just playing catch-up when it comes to the funding, but we’re playing catch-up on the capital maintenance projects of this kind,” Gavarrete said. “But the primary thing is, thank you for the voters for passing that tax. Because if not, we wouldn’t be doing any of these projects.” 

Though the county has been behind on the projects, Gavarrete said he has not had to recommend deferral for any of them, and he hopes to get caught up on the timeline during 2025. Gavarrete said he also hopes that suppliers can iron out the long-term effects of COVID-19 that still delay procurements today. 

In 2024, the county completed nine road projects, totaling $5.61 million. Two of the nine included 10 smaller road segments within subdivisions, according to a press release. 

Another eight road projects, costing $17.85 million, are underway. 

The county’s standout projects include: 

• NW 23rd Avenue: This $9.3-million project stretches from NW 58th Boulevard to Interstate 75 and includes the addition of turn lanes and a multi-use path to enhance traffic flow and pedestrian safety. 

• SW 170th Street (CR 241): This $4.37-million major rehabilitation includes widening County Road 241, stretching from SW 134th Avenue to the Levy County line. 

In 2025, the county has plans for the construction or procurement/design phases of another 19 road projects, 10 of which include 67 smaller road segments within subdivisions. 

Standout projects for 2025 include: 

• County Road 234 ($5.92 million) 

• NE/NW 53rd Avenue ($7.53 million)