ORANGE PARK, Fla. (March 13, 2025) — The Town of Orange Park, Florida, has awarded Superior Construction its Johnson Slough Roadway and Culvert Improvements contract. Funded by federal and state grants, this phased design-build project, valued at $1.78 million in its initial phase, will mitigate chronic flooding issues and enhance roadway safety for the community.

Located in a low-lying drainage area that feeds into the St. John’s River, Johnson Slough experiences “sunny day flooding”— a phenomenon where roads flood during high tide. The existing culverts beneath Carnes Street, Nelson Drive South, Nelson Drive, and Plainfield Avenue are undersized, causing flooding when water levels rise. This project will replace those undersized culverts with single-span bridges, raising the roadways and improving drainage capacity, which will ensure better accessibility and reduce flooding risks during storms and high tides.

“This is Orange Park’s largest infrastructure project to date, and we’re proud to guide them through their first phased design-build process,” said Juan Ortiz, Project Manager at Superior Construction. “Our goal is to deliver a resilient and cost-effective solution that makes roads safer and more reliable for drivers.”

Superior Construction has extensive experience completing successful flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects across Florida. The company has delivered similar infrastructure solutions in nearby St. Johns County and other environmentally sensitive regions. 

The project team will gather geotechnical data to assess bridge foundation requirements and identify any necessary improvements, as well as verify the locations of existing underground utilities. Superior Construction is collaborating with Tocoi Engineering, a Baxter & Woodman company, to develop a design that improves resilience against tidal influence.

Design services on the Orange Park project began in December 2024. Orange Park officials will review and approve the final design before construction begins.