Sea level rising may force tough decisions for Keys officials, homeowners

Roadway elevation could cost $128 million to save a handful of homes by 2045

MONROE COUNTY, Fla. ā€“ A stretch of road in the Florida Keys is taking center stage at a climate summit as the cost to save it may be too much.

A nearly three-mile stretch of road near southern Sugarloaf Key needs to raise just over 2 feet to keep up with rising sea level and peak tides, a study shows.

During a presentation at the 11th Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit in Key West, Monroe County administrative officials highlighted a few residential areas that face dire circumstances, citing a recent study that says it would cost $128 million by 2045 to raise the roadway.

The effort would save only a handful of homes and officials warn it may be impractical to prevent flooding.

ā€œItā€™s unacceptable, itā€™s unbelievable and we are in shock with that,ā€ resident Emilie Stewart said.

The presentation comes as some residents were seeing dry land in their neighborhoods after roadways were recently underwater for more than 45 days.

ā€œDoes it make sense, for example, to spend $10, $12, $15 million dollars to upgrade a road for two or three homes,ā€ Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi said. ā€œProbably not.ā€

Residents in the area were handing out fliers encouraging neighbors to attend a County Commission meeting on Dec. 11 to specifically address flooding issues.


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