Improving Flood Protection in Winter Springs: Gee Creek Culvert Project Underway
I’m pleased to share some good news along with video straight from the field. After approximately 18 months of requests, FDOT has begun clearing out the Gee Creek culverts beneath SR 434/419. This project is a long time coming, and I want to thank those at the Florida Department of Transportation for their responsiveness and collaboration.
The video below, provided by FDOT, highlights the work currently taking place on site.
Watch the footage from FDOT
In some areas, sediment had accumulated up to six feet deep. You can actually see the staining on the culvert walls where the buildup once sat. This accumulation was significantly impairing water flow and posed serious flooding risks for areas upstream, especially during storm events and hurricanes.
An interesting discovery during this effort revealed that when the roadway was widened about 20 years ago, FDOT didn’t remove the original arched bridge structure. Instead, large box culverts were added alongside it. As seen in the footage and photos, this mix of old and new infrastructure has created a hydraulic bottleneck, contributing to sediment buildup over time.
In the short term, removing that sediment will absolutely help improve water flow and reduce upstream flood staging at this crossing. In the longer term, I’ll continue to advocate for structural improvements to ensure the area remains resilient and flood-safe for years to come.
This is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that makes a real difference, even if it’s not always visible from the road. The total estimated project cost is around $760,000, with 75% covered by federal funding and 25% by the city.
We all benefit when infrastructure is maintained proactively and thoughtfully. Thank you for staying engaged, and I’ll continue to keep you informed as this work progresses.
Victoria Bruce
Winter Springs City Commissioner, District 2
