For Deltona drivers who have watched Elkcam Boulevard vanish under floodwater again and again, City Hall is finally trying to rewrite the script.
On Tuesday, Deltona commissioners signed off on a roughly $7 million project to raise a low-lying stretch of Elkcam Boulevard that city officials say should put an end to months-long closures after big storms. The segment of roadway, tucked between two lakes, has repeatedly gone underwater during hurricanes, forcing drivers and emergency crews onto long detours. The commission’s vote kicks off design and permitting work that still has to survive state review before any construction can start.
Funding and the plan
According to reporting by WKMG ClickOrlando, the roughly $7 million price tag will be mostly covered by state and federal grant money, about 75 percent, with Deltona responsible for the remaining quarter. The city has already hired an engineering consultant to handle surveys and design work and says the project will move in phases while it secures final approvals and payments, per Spectrum News 13. Officials say state sign off will be required before crews can break ground.
Why this stretch floods
The problem spot sits between nearby lakes and drains poorly, according to city planning materials. A City of Deltona presentation on hurricane impacts notes Elkcam was closed for extended periods after Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Milton and lists roadway elevation among FEMA HMGP applications. That history is what pushed staff to pursue a permanent elevation rather than keep throwing temporary fixes at the water.
Commutes and emergency access at stake
The vote was not unanimous. The mayor told reporters he would have preferred a bridge but ultimately backed the elevation plan to secure the state money that is on the table, according to WESH. City leaders have pointed to detours that can add roughly 20 to 30 minutes to east west trips when Elkcam is closed, a point they stressed during the meeting, per WKMG ClickOrlando. Neighbors who say they have watched the problem worsen over decades told officials they were relieved to see the commission finally move the project forward.
Next steps and timeline
Deltona is starting Phase I, which covers engineering, design, permitting and surveying, under a subaward and grant that staff say must be executed before the city can chase construction funding. City of Deltona records list the specific roadway segments targeted and the Phase I budget item the commission approved. Officials caution there is still no firm start date for construction while state review and final funding commitments are worked out.
Where this fits regional funding
The Elkcam elevation joins a larger slate of county and city stormwater projects that are being bundled for state and federal mitigation dollars, including Transform386 submissions that help local governments compete for flood control funding. Transform386 public notices show related Deltona applications and how the city is trying to line up local, county and state sources. For now, residents say they are just glad the long-promised fix is in motion, even if it will be months before heavy equipment shows up on the roadside.
