Truman Avenue repaving project will cause major disruption

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Key West City Commissioners were dismayed recently when they were forced to make a Sophie’s Choice decision on when a Truman Avenue repaving project will shut down the main corridor.

One option would completely close Truman Avenue in two phases – one from Eisenhower Avenue to White Street and a second phase from White to Whitehead streets – from 2 pm to midnight for 20 days in August and September. The second option would shut down the major thoroughfare from 10 pm to 5 am for six nights in August.

The 2 pm to midnight option was supported by residents and guesthouses owners along that stretch of Truman Avenue, who did not want the noisy ripping up of the old asphalt to keep them and inn guests awake during the night. The evening option was supported by other retail and commercial businesses on the affected portions of the street because daytime paving will keep customers out of the area during those work hours when the street, sidewalks and side streets intersecting Truman Avenue will be closed.

“It’s going to be an inconvenience, no doubt. It’s going to be a mess, no doubt,” said Greg Velez, Key West Assistant City Manager.

The Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) argued that the 10 pm to 5 am option was the better choice because it would allow workers to finish the project in six nights instead of 20 days.

“We feel that would be less invasive operation times due to the amount of businesses and residences that are in this area,” said Emilio Zamora, DOT project manager.

 

City commissioners were appalled at the disturbance the repaving project will create, no matter what time of day workers are on scene.

“Do you know what a cluster that’s going to make on all of those streets,” Commissioner Clayton Lopez asked Jacki Hart, project engineer for the contractor, RS&H.

“Yes,” she said simply.

Commissioners voted unanimously, albeit reluctantly, to approve the daytime project hours. So beginning on Aug 3 for 20 days, weather permitting, Truman Avenue and its side street will be closed to all vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic from 2 pm to midnight. Traffic will be diverted to other streets during that time, however, emergency vehicles on calls will be allowed through.

The entire repaving project will take 140 days to complete but only 20 days will be needed to strip the top two inches of asphalt off of the roadway and replace it. The stripping will be done by a large machine that creates a huge amount of noise during the process.

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