April 18 – Riberia Street construction begins

City of St. Augustine spokesperson Cathy DuPont informed Historic City News local reporters that the long wait for repairs on Riberia Street is almost over — announcing that excavation on Riberia Street at Bridge Street will begin Monday, April 18th.

Florida Department of Transportation says the drainage improvement project on King Street, between the San Sebastian Bridge and Malaga Street, is nearly complete. Detours should not be necessary after the end of this month.

So long as eastbound restrictions on King Street apply, Riberia Street and San Sebastian Harbor will remain open for local traffic.

According to word received from the City construction contractor, Masci Corporation, overhead power poles and utility line relocation in the area is nearly complete.

Unless dictated otherwise because of construction, “local traffic” will be maintained along Riberia Street. Once Riberia Street is closed to “through traffic”, between King Street and Bridge Street, Martin Luther King Avenue has been designated to serve as the detour route.

Public Works Director Martha Graham told Historic City News that our readers should seek alternate routes be used through the end of this year. The estimated completion date given is January 27, 2012.