GOVERNMENT
possible with the construction of the Indian Street Bridge in
Martin County in 2013. Similar challenges were faced there
with the crossing of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River.
“It’s nice to be able to actually see something,” Knott says.
“We’ve been looking at paper for 10 or 12 years. The difference
between the two bridges is the Crosstown bridge crosses
wetlands, not open water.”
Environmental hurdles aside, planners said the Federal
Highway Administration and Florida Department of Transportation
42 Port St. Lucie Magazine
were experienced with these issues and were helpful
during the permitting process.
Alternative routes were offered with 1C being selected and
adopted by City Council in 2012. All build alternatives faced
unavoidable environmental impacts. “The river as an asset is
an attribute to be protected,” says Michael Davis, former vice
president of the consulting firm Keith & Schnars in Fort Lauderdale.
“The selection criteria and matrix included impacts
to wetlands, fish, natural resources and communities. On
balance, alternative 1C was the best place to cross the river.”
Keith & Schnars was tapped to administer the process under
the National Environmental Policy Act and put together
an interdisciplinary team that included biologists, environmental
scientists, geologists and engineers. Also assisting
were the federal Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of
Engineers and South Florida Water Management District .
LONG PROCESS
Environmental studies for the final phase began in 2002 after
the Crosstown Parkway originally broke ground. But legal
wrangling ensued with environmentalists pushing back. In
December, a federal lawsuit was rejected and the water management
district granted the final order to proceed, which
also was challenged. The order was upheld by a federal appellate
court last month.
“This unanimous affirmation, which specifically recognizes
that the route for the Crosstown Bridge was properly selected
after careful, thoughtful consideration, comes on the heels of >>
CROSSTOWN EXTENSION WEBSITE
Water quality and habitat restoration projects were completed as part of
regulatory mitigation to offset impacts of the bridge construction. The wetlands
enhancement was a joint venture between the city and county.
CROSSTOWN EXTENSION WEBSITE
Properties were acquired to allow for the widening of West Virginia Drive and construction of the bridge across the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.