On August 12, 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) held a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the five lanes on North Roosevelt Boulevard from Eisenhower Drive to U.S. 1, as the reconstruction project nears its completion. The project cost over $41.5 million.
Work included the installation of sewer and water lines, a new stormwater system with filtration, upgraded lighting, traffic signals with hurricane-resistant mast arms, a renovated seawall and promenade, new sidewalks, a repaved roadway, and landscaping.
The ceremony was held at the Marriott Beachside hotel in Key West and was attended by about 70 individuals representing various groups including state, county, and city governmental agencies, FDOT, the DeMoya Group, AMEC Engineering, SWC Consulting, OMI, Keys Energy Services, the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority and the Key West Chamber of Commerce. The City of Key West and the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority were financial partners with FDOT in the project for the sewer and water systems.
The event speakers included FDOT State Secretary Ananth Prasad; FDOT District Six Secretary Gus Pego; Erin Muir, the legislative aide for State Representative Holly Raschein; and Key West Mayor Craig Cates.
The speakers praised all those who participated in the project, and in addition discussed the complexities of the work performed, how great partners can overcome differences, lessons learned, the magnificent new infrastructure and entranceway into Key West, and the perseverance of the businesses and citizens while work was underway.
Following the speeches, guests were treated to a police-escorted, narrated tour of the project on Historic Tours of America’s Conch Trains. At the completion of the tour, the official ribbon cutting took place at the Marriott Beachside, with Secretary Prasad, Secretary Pego, Mayor Cates, FKAA Board Chair Robert Dean, Keys Energy Services Board Chair Peter Batty, and DeMoya Group Vice President, A.J. DeMoya, participating.
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