The Alachua County Public Works Department has resumed normal operations after completing a comprehensive four-week cleanup effort in response to Hurricane Debby. The western side of the county sustained the most significant damage, similar to previous storms, with hundreds of trees removed to ensure the safety of public right-of-ways.
To expedite debris removal, staff from multiple units were reassigned to assist, which has impacted other operations. For instance, the additional workload from Debby has delayed mowing crews by approximately four weeks in their regular cycle.
“Grass grows rapidly during this time of year,” said Terry Jackson, maintenance supervisor for the mowing unit. “In some areas, our crews will initially focus on mowing a single pass adjacent to the pavement for safety, until the grass growth slows and we can catch up.”
One positive outcome of the storm was that fewer trees fell on key county roads, such as CR 241 and CR 235, thanks to a proactive tree-trimming campaign initiated by Public Works last year. Crews have been diligently removing damaged and dead trees, as well as trimming low-hanging limbs to improve safety for school buses and large vehicles.
“We’ve seen a marked reduction in fallen trees along roads where trimming has been conducted,” said Donald Clifton, the county’s road and bridge superintendent. “Our tree trimming efforts are making our community more storm-resilient and ensuring safer roadways.”
For more information on Alachua County’s road operations, contact Donald Clifton at 352-548-1272.
