With the first phase of the Lasalle Street pump station nearing completion, San Marco residents can expect construction impacts to shift as the project moves into its second and final phase.
Since the project broke ground in 2023, crews have made significant strides to construct the new pump station as well as the new outfall, bulkhead and other drainage improvements. According to Haskell’s Joe Kantor, director of project development, the pump station is expected to come online in the first quarter of this year.
While the impact of construction thus far has been concentrated on Lasalle Street, from the San Marco Boulevard intersection to the river, phase two will see more widespread pockets of construction as crews work to replace existing pipes along various stretches of residential roadways.
“We’re replacing over a mile’s worth of pipe inside of the San Marco basin,” Kantor said.
The new pipes will be significantly larger than what is currently underground, allowing the pipe system to collect more stormwater. Phase two construction will also involve some road replacement and asphalt overlay, Kantor said.
This work has already begun along Naldo Avenue and is nearly completed there with work coming to Belmonte and Larue avenues as well as Riviera, Colombo and Laverne streets in stages designed to minimize the disruption felt by residents.
Kantor emphasized that all impacted residents will be informed before work begins on each identified street. Public meetings for impacted residents will be held to provide the necessary updates before work begins.
“It will be very targeted, very specific in terms of the information that we convey because that’s what’s going to be pertinent to them,” Kantor said. “It’s, you know, here’s what’s happening on your street, here’s what’s happening in front of your house.”
Kantor added that crews plan to work in stages on a block-by-block basis in the continued effort of decreasing disruption.
Because Lasalle Street is the “major trunk line” for the stormwater collection system, residents will see more construction along Lasalle from Naldo Avenue back down to San Marco Boulevard, which will involve work at the intersection at San Marco Boulevard.
“The team has worked incredibly hard to try to minimize any of those disruptions that we’re going to have at the crossing at San Marco,” Kantor said.
The intersection at San Marco Boulevard and Riviera Street will eventually see some disruption as well to allow for construction.
The project in its entirety is expected to be completed in 2026.
To see project details visit www.jacksonville.gov/lasallestreetdrainagefaq
