Indian River's CR-510 Widening Hits $250M Price Tag, Won't Be Done Until 2033

Eleven years of community meetings. Fifty-four conversations with the Wabasso neighborhood alone. Yet Indian River County residents who drive County Road 510 every day will wait at least eight more years before the job is finished.

Widening CR-510 from two lanes to four across a 6.4-mile corridor will cost approximately $250 million, with the final segment not completed until 2033, the Indian River County Metropolitan Planning Organization heard Tuesday. Delays stem from a railroad dispute, permit fights with water control districts, and a project funding calendar that stretches deep into the next decade.

Florida Department of Transportation Project Manager Maria Formoso laid out the full picture for commissioners: one segment under construction, one waiting on money, and two more tangled in regulatory disputes with no clear resolution date.

The most expensive single piece is a $105 million flyover at the Florida East Coast Railway crossing and U.S. 1 intersection — nearly half the project's total cost. The structure would carry two lanes over the railroad while two others cross at grade. But Florida East Coast Railway agreed to the overpass only on condition that FDOT close the Old Dixie Highway crossing nearby, a demand that has complicated negotiations and contributed to the project's timeline delays, Formoso said.

Water also looms as an obstacle. Segments five and six are stuck in permit disputes with the Sebastian River Improvement District and the Indian River Farms Water Control District, respectively. Several residents who spoke Tuesday voiced specific fears: drainage problems, compromised emergency access routes, and the possibility that road elevation changes could push floodwater onto already vulnerable properties in the corridor.

Segment seven, running from County Road 512 to 87th Place, offers one bright spot. Tim Rose Construction is building that stretch for $25 million and is ahead of schedule. Segment eight has cleared design and permitting but sits in a funding queue, with money not expected until fiscal year 2030.

When complete, the widened corridor will include bike lanes, sidewalks, a roundabout at CR-510 and 66th Avenue, and speed limits ranging from 40 to 50 mph depending on section.

The meeting also grew contentious over representation within the West Wabasso Progressive Civic League, with community members and officials clashing over leadership disputes that have spilled into legal proceedings.

The board received separate updates on south county residential development projects that will generate funding for additional road improvements in the area under planned development agreements.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.