FDOT scraps overpass, underpass alternatives for intersection of Aviation Blvd and U.S. 1
VERO BEACH — Drivers and nearby businesses won't have to deal with either an overpass or an underpass at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Aviation Boulevard.
Those traffic-control options have been scrapped, the Florida Department of Transportation announced at public workshops last week. Four alternative traffic plans, though, still are on the table.
"Based on the FAA conclusion, screening evaluation, public input and coordination with the city, county and airport, the four overpass or underpass alternatives were eliminated from further consideration," said William Evans, project manager at WGI Inc., the firm studying the conditions of the existing intersection.
What options are still being considered?
The four remaining options are:
A conventional intersection that would be expanded to ease congestion
A one-way pair, splitting the U.S. 1 northbound lane and pushing it farther east and creating a second intersection to lessen traffic through the original intersection
A displaced left turn on U.S. 1 onto Aviation Boulevard, adding a second traffic signal to control the flow of traffic.
A median U-turn with a roundabout, eliminating the left turn from U.S. 1 onto Aviation Boulevard. Instead, vehicles would turn right, then drive through a roundabout to go west on Aviation Boulevard.
Why make any change?
The local Metropolitan Planning Organization, which coordintes federally funded projects, has had its eye on the intersection, identifying it as the sixth-highest priority in its 2045 long-range transportation plan.
Traffic there is at maximum capacity, causing congestion, said FDOT.
Currently 34,200 vehicles daily pass through the intersection on U.S. 1 and 12,000 pass through on Aviation Boulevard. Those numbers are expected to increase 61% to 55,000 and 19,300, respectively, by 2045, according to FDOT.
The intersection is situated among Vero Beach Regional Airport , railroad tracks used by Florida East Coast Railway and Brightline and U.S. 1, the major roadway through the Treasure Coast.
It already takes vehicles around 1½ minutes to go through the intersection, and that is expected to increase to 3½ minutes by 2045 if the intersection is not improved, said Evans.
Reconstruction of the intersection could cost up to $46 million. FDOT has not stated when construction would begin.
How were the choices narrowed down?
Eight original options were scored, and the lowest four scores were eliminated from consideration. Those were the proposals which used overpasses or underpasses at the railroad tracks.
The city was strongly against an overpass or underpass at the intersection, and has been working with FDOT to get to the best option.
"The important part to me was that overpass or underpass selections were ranked the lowest," said City Manager Monte Falls, who has worked closely with FDOT on this project.
"That is good news to me because I think that is a poor location for an overpass. It would devastate the land on the east side of U.S. 1 for development."
The four remaining alternatives were supported by the local government, public, and operate well and provide good property access, according to Evans.
"The highest-scored alternative was the traditional intersection," said Falls. "So that will now be presented to the Metropolitan Planning Organization to see which one they like and we will go from there."
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The next public hearings are expected in the spring.
Nick Slater is TCPalm’s Indian River County Watchdog reporter. You can reach him at Nick.Slater@tcpalm.com and 224-830-2875.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach avoids overpass, FDOT rejects proposals at U.S. 1/Aviation Blvd
