Controversial surprise speed bump in Indialantic was removed a week after installation

Tyler Vazquez, Florida Today
·1 min read
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A raised crosswalk that seemingly cropped up out of nowhere, haranguing drivers in Indialantic, was removed nearly as quickly as it emerged.Vehicles bottoming out, suddenly scraping against the asphalt, has been a recurring issue since Florida Department of Transportation installed the crosswalk, which functions similarly to a speed bump, on Fifth Avenue on Nov. 3 with no prior announcement or visible signage for drivers accustomed to a flat roadway.

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Deep gouges and scrape marks are visible in the asphalt on and around the raised crosswalk.

A raised crosswalk at this location in Fifth Avenue on Indialantic was removed within a week after it was installed.
A raised crosswalk at this location in Fifth Avenue on Indialantic was removed within a week after it was installed.

The installation was the first of five planned raised crosswalks for U.S. 192, locally called Fifth Avenue in Indialantic, set to be installed in the town. Those plans now are being scrapped to prevent further vehicles becoming scraped. Mayor Mark McDermott said the Town Council had voted to install the crosswalk two years ago on the state-controlled road. Officials with FDOT never reached out to local officials ahead of putting the hump in, surprising the town and motorists.

This is the location in Fifth Avenue in Indialantic where a raised crosswalk was removed within a week after it was installed.
This is the location in Fifth Avenue in Indialantic where a raised crosswalk was removed within a week after it was installed.

Now, the council voted unanimously to remove the hump and as of Friday morning, it was already gone. FDOT has told town officials they plan to re-evaluate going forward, McDermott said.

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“They just put it in last week and didn’t let anybody know, not the town manager or public works," McDermott added. "So we voted to remove it. FDOT is going to reevaluate, and come back with some plans.”

Now abandoned Florida Department of Transportation plans to install five speed bumps on U.S. 192/Fifth Avenue in Indialantic.
Now abandoned Florida Department of Transportation plans to install five speed bumps on U.S. 192/Fifth Avenue in Indialantic.

FDOT did not return a request for comment when reached by telephone Friday morning.

Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard and Brevard County government watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Controversial speed bump in Indialantic removed by Florida DOT