What Will Happen to Atlantic Avenue Parking? FDOT Meeting Set for Thursday

FERNANDINA BEACH — A Florida Department of Transportation plan that will remove on-street parking along sections of Atlantic Avenue to make room for bicycle lanes and roadway shoulders will be the subject of a public open house Thursday.

FDOT will hold the meeting Sept. 24 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Atlantic Recreation Center Auditorium, 2500 Atlantic Ave. The meeting also will be available online.

The $5 million project will resurface 1.62 miles of Atlantic Avenue from Centre Street to South Fletcher Avenue, rehabilitate drainage infrastructure, replace curbs and signs and improve curb ramps. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in late 2027.

But the part of the project likely to draw the most attention Thursday is what happens to parking.

FDOT plans to install eastbound and westbound bicycle lanes on Atlantic Avenue from 15th Street to Jean Lafitte Boulevard. The agency says on-street parking will be removed along sections of the corridor to provide space for bicycle lanes and roadway shoulders.

FDOT's published project information does not specify how many parking spaces will be eliminated or identify precisely where all of the parking removals will occur.

The bicycle lanes will not extend for the full 1.62-mile project. They are planned between 15th Street and Jean Lafitte Boulevard.

Thursday's meeting is a construction open house, not an initial hearing on whether the project should be built. The project has already been designed, put out for bids and awarded to a contractor.

FDOT awarded the contract on April 28 and the current project page identifies the contractor as MAER Construction at a project cost of $5 million.

The state's bid solicitation had estimated the project at $7.66 million before bids were received. The contract provides 300 days for the work.

The contract calls for milling and resurfacing, base work, drainage improvements, curb and gutter work, sidewalks, highway signs and other construction along Atlantic Avenue. FDOT says the roadway has reached the end of its service life.

The work also will impact traffic on and around Atlantic Avenue.

Temporary detours are expected at North 11th Street, North 13th Street, South 16th through South 20th streets, Citrona Drive and Wolff Street. Pedestrian detours also are expected at various locations.

Construction generally will take place during daylight hours.

Residents attending Thursday's open house will be able to view project information and question members of the FDOT project team. People participating online will have the same opportunity to ask questions as those attending in person.

The project is identified by FDOT as Financial Project No. 210679-2. Atlantic Avenue through the project area is also designated State Road A1A, State Road 200 and Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway.