Elgin Widening Moving Forward

The widening of Elgin Boulevard moved closer to reality Tuesday after county commissioners unanimously voted to spend $155,325 to buy another piece of property on that road.

With the purchase, the county has now acquired 61 percent of the property along the 1.8-mile stretch of Elgin targeted for widening, County Engineer Charles Mixson said.

Mixson said he hopes to acquire the remaining properties by the end of this fiscal year, next Sept. 30. The design work should be completed next year and, barring any budget problems, construction could begin shortly after that, he said.

The project got a huge shot in the arm last July when Hernando County received a $2 million matching grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help pay for the acquisition of remaining properties along that road.

Negotiated settlements with homeowners have averaged $55,000 to $325,000, depending on the square footage of the house and other property amenities.

County Commissioner David Russell said FDOT's willingness to help fund the widening of Elgin Boulevard shows the importance of that road from a regional standpoint.

"That makes a pretty strong statement," Russell said.

Commission Chairman Chris Kingsley said Elgin is anticipated to be a vital east-west road in the county and, once improved, should relieve traffic along State Road 50, County Line Road and Spring Hill Drive.

Mixson said the only remaining question mark will be what to do with the abandoned homes along Elgin: Demolish them or relocate them to sites elsewhere in the county.

Mixson said he will explore both options and see which would be the cheapest for the county.