Starting tomorrow, getting in and out of the Atlantic Village Shopping Center may take a few extra minutes. The City of Atlantic Beach has announced the temporary closure of the shopping center's west entrance on Aquatic Drive, which began yesterday. The closure is due to construction related to the Aquatic Gardens–Hopkins Creek stormwater management improvements. To keep things moving safely, the city is asking the public for patience.
In the spirit of betterment and resilience against future heavy rains, this project's end goal is providing the infrastructure that can handle the whims of weather. They have estimated the closure to last somewhere between 4 to 5 weeks. Not only shopping trips will be affected, but daily commutes as well, with the construction for necessary improvements unfolding in a location central to many locals. According to the City of Atlantic Beach's official statement, they "appreciate your patience as we work to improve our local infrastructure and ensure a safe construction environment."
Now, it's important to note that while the west entrance is closed, there are still other entry points to Atlantic Village Shopping Center that remain open. Navigation apps can be a real lifesaver, rerouting us around traumas of closed roads and the unexpected detours of urban development. Retailers in the center are still open for business and are hoping that customers will endure the minor inconvenience for the promise of long-term benefits. Be it a quick coffee grab or a grocery run, planning a few extra commute minutes into your routine might be the wise move for the coming weeks.
With construction projects often susceptible to delays, fingers crossed that the Aquatic Drive entrance will indeed reopen within the projected timeline. Keeping an eye on updates from the City of Atlantic Beach is key, as they're the ones laying down the tiles of progress, one stormwater pipe at a time.
