A proposed $19.3 million extension of Buena Vista Boulevard south of State Road 44 was approved Wednesday night by the Sumter County Board of Commissioners.
Building new regional roads like the Buena Vista extension is a justification for a proposed 25 percent increase in the 2019-2020 county budget, which will be voted on next week. The final vote will come after a public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Savannah Center.
The four-lane, divided extension of Buena Vista Boulevard would connect to a future extension of Meggison Road near Brownwood, which then would run to Warm Springs Avenue (County Road 468) north of the Florida Turnpike.
The extension would serve the growing Village of Southern Oaks on both sides of the Florida Turnpike, where up to 60,000 homes are permitted.
The adopted route, which is the most expensive of three alternatives, is east of Wildwood County Resort and will feature two roundabouts, one northeast and one southeast of the resort.
Right-of-way acquisition is expected to cost $5.7 million. Other estimated costs include $2.1 million for surveying and design and $388,000 for wetland mitigation.
A proposed route west of the resort would be shorter, but would involve relocation of 13 homes and businesses. It would require acquisition of 26 properties compared to 10 for the eastern route. A second proposed route also east of the resort would not include the roundabouts.
By the time it opens in 2025, the Buena Vista extension is expected to carry 10,300 vehicles daily, rising to 19,000 in 2045.
Building the east extension could affect a bald eagle nest observed southeast of the resort. The road would be outside a 330-foot buffer of the nest but within a 660-foot buffer.
Amber Gardner, project manager with Kimley-Horn & Associates, said construction would be halted when eagles are nesting and contractors would be warned about disturbing the nest. Kimley-Horn was hired to complete an engineering study on the project.
A public hearing on the alternatives, including a no-build option, was held in March at the resort. Sixty seven written comments were in favor of the eastern alternative with roundabouts and one opposed. Thirty four comments were opposed to the western alternative with three in favor.
In a related matter, commissioners also approved a $4.5-million upgrade of County Road 229 near Interstate 75 between SR 44 and County Road 462. The roadway would be expanded with wider lanes but would remain a two-lane road. Traffic capacity would be increased to accommodate new businesses including a hotel and expansion of a recreational vehicle park.
