Washouts on A1A: What is FDOT doing to protect storm-battered roadway?
Road repair crews with the Florida Department of Transportation worked Monday on fixing washouts on State Road A1A in Volusia and Flagler counties following Sunday's heavy rains.
Both washouts were repaired, and A1A was back open in both places Monday afternoon.
Such washouts, which required short, temporary detours through residential areas, have occurred over the years following severe weather events.
Cindi Lane, FDOT's public information director, described it as a similar but much smaller operation compared with what was done after last year's back-to-back tropical storms Ian and Nicole.
Lane said crews have continued to monitor those areas ever since.
Here's where the recent washouts occurred, how FDOT responded and what's planned for the future:
Where did the washouts occur Sunday?
Washouts occured in both Flagler and Volusia counties on Sunday.
The washout in Flagler Beach was reported just after 3:30 p.m. on the south side of the beach near the water tower.
Matthew Doughney, Flagler Beach police chief, said a much smaller washout also was reported nearby.
The washout in Flagler Beach was repaired with asphalt and beach-compatible sand, and the section of A1A reopened at about 2:30 p.m. Monday, Lane said.
The Volusia County washout near Ormond-by-the-Sea was reported at about 4:40 p.m. at San Jose Drive, less than 6 miles south of the Flagler Beach washout, according to FDOT.
The washout was repaired, and the section of A1A reopened after 5:30 p.m. Monday, Lane said.
Were sea turtle nests impacted?
Officials said it doesn't appear that any sea turtle nests were impacted by the washouts, although there was a nest nearby the Flagler Beach washout.
Sea turtle nesting season generally runs May through October, a period during which hundreds of sea turtles will lay eggs in the sand.
Beachgoers are encouraged to leave the beach just as they found it, so as to not disturb the sea turtle nesting process.
From May to October: Sea turtle nesting season is here. What you need to know:
Sea turtle sightings: Which sea turtles can you see in Volusia and Flagler?
Longterm A1A fixes in the works
After last year's back-to-back tropical storms Ian and Nicole, the State Road A1A Resiliency Strike Team began meeting every week to discuss long-term options for repairing and strengthening about 13 miles of A1A in Flagler and Volusia counties.
The Strike Team includes representatives from FDOT, Flagler and Volusia counties and the City of Flagler Beach.
Following community meetings in both counties about possible solutions, the decision was made to move forward with secant walls, which are made of overlapping concrete piles that have been reinforced with steel beams or rebar.
Lane said design work is underway.
"The key thing right now is to get the environmental permits that will be required," Lane said.
She said if all goes according to plan, construction on the Ormond-area secant wall could begin this fall.
Work on the secant wall near the county line as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project is set to begin next year, Lane said.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Washouts: What FDOT is planning to protect A1A in Volusia, Flagler
