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Public Hearing Scheduled to Discuss Repairing Damaged Bridges

A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at the Alachua County Board of County Commissioner’s meeting to discuss a possible tax assessment to fix the private bridges on Northeast 96th Avenue, Northeast 100th Avenue and Northeast 108th Avenue.

Severe storms in August 2015 caused the 96th Avenue bridge to collapse, and damages to the other two bridges.

Gainesville resident Diana Lancaster said the county is working with residents to make the tax assessments as affordable as possible, and the families have taken action attempting to repair the bridges.

“It’s a little frustrating because we have to walk to our vehicles across that wooden sunken bridge,” Lancaster said. “All our neighbors agreed if they would fix the bridge and assess our taxes to pay for it, that we were all willing to do that.”

Lancaster said only families directly affected by the roads will receive a tax assessment if the county decides to pursue that action.

Each bridge will cost between an estimated $250,000 and $300,000, according to the county.

The Board of County Commissioners is looking into alternative options to help affected residents and restore accessibility of the bridges.

Alternatives include finding other access points for residents to reach their homes by buying other properties so that bridge improvements wouldn’t be necessary.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.

Dominique is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.