A roadway maintenance and resurfacing project on Lake Worth Road from the west side of Panther Run Elementary School heading west to South Shore Blvd. will get underway next week requiring periodic lane closures, and the Village of Wellington is warning that delays are expected.
“Lake Worth Road remains open, so it is not expected to be a burden,” said Liz Nunez, public information officer for the village.
Nunez pointed out that the work will be done during evening, night and early morning hours and shouldn’t have too great an effect on residents and equestrian visitors.
Construction will take place starting at 6 p.m. and stop for the day at 6 a.m., Sundays through Thursdays, to lessen the impact on commuters, Nunez said.
Work begins Monday, Feb. 11 and will last until the early part of March.
“That’s barring any unforeseen circumstances,” noted Assistant Village Manager Jim Barnes, referring to unpredictable rain. “The weather here can have rain almost any time. It is supposed to rain Saturday and Sunday, but they should be able to start Monday evening.”
Barnes added that this section of road has needed work for a long time.
“We evaluate all the village’s roads on an annual basis, based on a condition assessment. We develop a list of what needs to be done and prioritize our needs compared to available funding,” he said. “We got some additional life out of it with crack sealing, but this road was ready for rehabilitation.”
Barnes said that Wellington does work on its roads year-round and that the primary concern is getting the work done before the rainy season starts.
Barnes explained that age is not the only determinant of when a road is getting worn out. “Road conditions have a lot to do with it,” he said. “The water table affects how long it will last.”
According to Nunez, weather will determine how long the project takes. She explained that puddling from a rainstorm prevents work from progressing, and rain can even prevent the curing process of the new asphalt layer that will resurface the roadway.
“First the work will begin with milling, which is grinding off the top one-and-one-half-inches of the surface,” Nunez said. “This material can be used in driveways.”
Milling uses the reclaimed asphalt pavement, which can be repurposed in the hot mix as an addition to the new aggregate and asphalt binder, thus reducing the effect resurfacing roadways has on the environment.
Barnes said that after milling, the village’s contractor, Ranger Construction Industries, will then put down the new road surface, which should have a 15-year lifespan, even in the harsh South Florida summer sun and sub-tropical rainstorms.
“Although the road being taken up is 20 years old and has been sealed, it is showing signs of wear and tear,” Nunez said.
Barnes said that the budget for the milling, resurfacing, overlaying, signage, replacing the stripes and rebuilding all the concrete curbs and entries to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act comes in at approximately $948,000.
“Any outdoor construction is affected by rain events, so we want to beat the rainy season. That can extend the duration of the work extensively,” Barnes said. “That’s a big stretch of road, and rain can cause major delays.”
Drivers are encouraged to be extra aware and cautious when using Lake Worth Road in the area during the construction process.
For more information, visit www.wellingtonfl.gov.
