UPDATE: In this week's Traffic Inbox, we said that the Florida Department of Transportation may do a traffic study at the State Road A1A intersection because of the new businesses going up on in Cape Canaveral. On Monday afternoon, the agency reached us to say that it will do a traffic study of the area because of the new businesses. FDOT will assess whether a traffic signal is warranted there or not.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Cape Canaveral resident Robert Semick says that each year, State Road A1A becomes an increasingly difficult road to drive on.
- Cape Canaveral resident worries about A1A intersection
- Traffic at A1A and Columbia Drive called 'a nightmare'
- FDOT conducted traffic study last year
So we headed out to Cape Canaveral this week because of this note we received from Semick:
"There is a very dangerous intersection in Cape Canaveral. Someone is going to get killed there. Something needs to be done!"
Semick says that growing traffic on A1A has made it increasingly dangerous to make a turn from Columbia Drive, the intersection near his house. And it's especially dangerous if you are making a left turn.
"It seems like it's getting progressively worse with the addition of the new cruise ships down at the port,” Semick said. “And then of course we have the snowbirds who come down, so you have an increase there. Spring break is a disaster here.
"It's a nightmare. It's a nightmare,” an emotional Semick said. “People who live down here don't make that left. We make this right, make a U-turn up the street and go."
To make matters worse, the area's growing traffic profile has also made it more unsafe for pedestrians. New businesses have emerged on either side of A1A with not enough crosswalks for walkers and bikers.
Some people in the area are also concerned that a new Twistee Treat across the street from Columbia Avenue will goad children into crossing the street. Normally, that wouldn't be a major cause for concern, but when you factor in that there are no safe places to cross the street here, area residents are fearing the worst.
"Somebody is going to die here. There is going to be a fatality here," Semick said.
In the meantime, despite the deteriorating traffic conditions, he has no plans to leave.
"I love it that much, that no, I'll make my right and make a U-turn," Semick said.
The Florida Department of Transportation did confirm that a traffic study was performed last year on that intersection, and officials determined that traffic did not warrant a signal. However, with new businesses going up at the intersection, they also said it would likely be reviewed again.
So stay tuned and thanks for your submission!
If you have a traffic issue or question at home that you want looked at, go to mynews13.com/trafficinbox and just fill out the simple form.