The Florida Department of Transportation says that ongoing resurfacing of U.S. 441 from Baseline (SR 35) to State Road 200 has been delayed after the contractor for the project closed its doors.
FDOT will present the information to the Ocala Marion Transportation Planning Organization Board on Tuesday as part of a brief update on major road construction projects throughout Marion County.
“The contractor has been working along the shoulders of U.S. 441 and in the right of way to lengthen and widen turning lanes and to improve stormwater drainage structures. However, DAB Constructors of Inglis has stopped work and it is unknown if the contractor intends to finish the project,” reads the update from FDOT.
The contractor, DAB Constructors, closed its doors in July and cited ongoing issues with the state.
According to a letter published in the Citrus County Chronicle by president Debora Bachschmidt and executive vice president Bill Bachschmidt, the company faced an ongoing “tug-of-war” on a particular project near Tampa that cost it millions in unreimbursed payments from FDOT.
The FDOT says the completion date could be pushed back to late 2021 or later as a result of this development.
This and all ongoing projects from the company will be managed by DAB’s bonding companies, according to the owners’ statement.
Next month, FDOT will begin resurfacing another stretch of U.S. 441 beginning at County Road 25A and ending at the highway’s split with U.S. 301.
The Ocala/Marion Transportation Planning Organization meets on Tuesday, August 24 at 4 p.m. at the Marion County Commission Auditorium located at 601 SE 25th Avenue.