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Pinellas County outlines one‑way circulation pilot and security gates plan for Dunedin Causeway
Summary
Pinellas County staff presented a pilot plan to make the Dunedin Causeway beach frontage one‑way on the north side, proposed security gates to close overnight, and reported storm damage repairs — including a $60,000 immediate repair and a larger southeast erosion repair awaiting Federal Highway Administration approval.
Dunedin — Pinellas County transportation staff on Jan. 21 outlined a three‑part plan to reduce conflicts on the Dunedin Causeway beach frontage: a north‑side pilot of one‑way beach circulation, installation of nighttime security gates, and ongoing storm‑damage repairs.
Tom Washburn, director of transportation for Pinellas County Public Works, said county staff has coordinated concept designs with city parks officials and community groups and intends to pilot clockwise one‑way vehicle circulation on the north beach frontage first because it is easier to implement than the south side. The south side faces additional engineering complexity related to jet‑ski access near the launch area.
Washburn said implementation will rely mostly on signing because sand prevents pavement markings; signs would include one‑way, do‑not‑enter and right‑turn‑only signs. The Causeway and Coastal Waterway Committee and the Dunedin Beach Civic Association have both seen the concept and offered preliminary support.
Security gates and storm repairs County staff also presented a proposal for swing security gates that would close at night, similar to the system on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, but noted that the city issues overnight‑fishing permits which would need to be accommodated.
Washburn reported two areas of storm damage: a repaired fender system, sidewalk and railing at the bridge (repair cost about $60,000, completed without waiting for federal approval), and a more severe southeast erosion that has closed part of the causeway since the storms. The county submitted an estimate to the Federal Highway Administration and said it expects about five weeks of repair work once federal approval is received.
Questions from commission and next steps Commissioners pressed county staff on management and enforcement: who would control the gates (county parks currently manages those areas), whether the north‑side pilot would be reevaluated and how enforcement would be handled (the county would post regulatory signs and rely on Pinellas County Sheriff patrols for enforcement). Washburn said the county is updating interlocal agreements with the city to clarify responsibilities and expected to bring a single consolidated interlocal in the near future.
Commissioners asked for additional design elements — for example, crosswalk/painted pavement treatments at access points — and for additional traffic counts and observations; Washburn said counts started on the north side before the storms and would be resumed now that repairs and planning are moving forward.
Why it matters The Causeway is both a popular recreational area and an infrastructure asset; circulation, parking and overnight activities have been recurrent sources of complaints. County staff framed the one‑way pilot and gates as safety and operations proposals designed to reduce vehicle–pedestrian conflicts, control late‑night traffic and protect the sand surface and riprap.
Provenance Presentation and discussion began with Tom Washburn’s briefing to the commission (first Causeway remarks at 00:05:00 in the transcript) and concluded with commissioner follow‑up questions about enforcement, parking and jet‑ski access (last related remarks at 01:13:18).
