Residents urge traffic study and signage at Highway 98/Avenue A as congestion grows
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Summary
Residents and commissioners raised concerns about congestion and pedestrian safety at the Highway 98/Avenue A corridor, urged the city to press Florida DOT for signage or traffic changes (no-left-turn signs were suggested), and asked staff to consider a traffic study and coordination with Eastern Shipbuilding for alternative egress.
Multiple residents and commissioners raised traffic-safety concerns for the Highway 98/Avenue A corridor and other local approaches, reporting long delays, a growing number of vehicles backing up to the open pass and several collisions, including motorcycle involvement. Speakers said pedestrians — including children — are at risk crossing Avenue A and asked the city to act before the problem leads to a serious crash.
Commissioners and staff discussed potential steps: pursuing a traffic study, requesting no-left-turn signage at key approaches, working with Eastern Shipbuilding about egress routing, and deploying off-duty or extra enforcement. Speakers noted past DOT reluctance to act on pedestrian crossings and said the city can at least post signage on city-owned right-of-way while pressing DOT for more substantial changes.
The commission agreed to pursue options and to engage law enforcement and DOT contacts to seek near- and longer-term solutions.
