A Village of Winifred resident continues to urge elected representatives to pursue a forensic study to determine what has caused the sloughing at the Morse Boulevard bridge embankment.
Phillip Wenzel, who had an extensive career in the transportation industry before retiring to The Villages, offered his thoughts Friday morning to Community Development District 5 supervisors. He recently spoke on the same topic before the Project Wide Advisory Committee. You can read more about that HERE
He wondered out loud how much more the residents might ultimately be responsible for, beyond the planned $1.7 million rock revetment project aimed at shoring up the embankment.
“It’s not just Morse Island. It’s also the abutments. Are we going to have to pay for that, too?” Wenzel asked.
He also pointed out the erosion at the shoreline. Residents of Haciendas of Mission Hills have complained to PWAC about the loss of their view. You can read more about that HERE
He offered photographs of the bridge embankment in addition to his thoughts to the CDD 5 board.
Jerry Knoll, CDD 5’s alternate representative to the PWAC board, said there is no need for a forensic study.
“If (engineering firm) Kimley-Horn and/or their subcontractor had found any indication that suggested that they needed to do additional studies, they would have had to have reported that back to PWAC and the number districts. Based on the report from Kimley-Horn to Project Wide, they felt the study was complete,” Knoll said.
He said there is no need for a “fishing expedition.”
“I see no reason to dig another hole in hopes of finding something,” Knoll added.