FDOT: A1A Flagler Beach washout not fixed until October

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Central Florida is in hurricane season, and it could be months before a major road is repaired, an official with the Florida Department of Transportation told Channel 9's Mike Springer.

Heavy rain washed out at least three blocks of State Road A1A between 11th and 13th streets in Flagler County last week. The road has since reopened.

"It looked like somebody took a giant bite right out of the dirt," said John Williams, who works at Crab Island Flagler.

This is the third time the road has been washed out by heavy rain. Portions of the road were washed out two other times last week. The road was impacted last October during Hurricane Matthew.

An official with FDOT told Eyewitness News the latest repairs may not happen until fall 2018. The repairs can't happen until then because of where the road is situated, FDOT said.

There are several different agencies who would be involved in drawing up the construction plans, permits and funding, officials said.

The official said that last year's fix was temporary to get traffic flowing again in Flagler Beach.

"It's an issue we are going to have to keep our eyes on and be prepared to fix," said Steve Olson, with FDOT.

Eyewitness News asked Olson if the repairs were done too quickly.

"It wasn't done in a hasty manner. I mean, we needed to open this road as quickly as possible. We did the best job that we could under those perimeters," Olsen said.

Business owners along the beach told Eyewitness News that they're growing frustrated that the washouts are keeping customers from getting to them.

"How's anybody going to get to us? Foot traffic is good, but we want people to come from all areas," Williams said.

The costs of repairs and maintenance are covered under the existing contract, so the construction isn't costing additional taxpayer dollars.

Cox Media Group