DEBARY, Fla. - A fix is on the way for one of the most frustrating traffic problems in this city in southwest Volusia County.

The DeBary City Council and the Volusia County School Board are teaming up to untangle backups on West Highbanks Road caused by DeBary Elementary School's traffic.


What You Need To Know


The cost, estimated at $926,093, is being shared equally by both governments. 

The project calls for expanding an existing route for parents from Donald E. Smith Boulevard to the dropoff-pickup loop. It also calls for adding a dedicated left turn lane on Donald E. Smith Boulevard.

The existing main entrance from West HighBanks Road will close. The new entrance will be at Donald E. Smith Boulevard. Sidewalks will be added.

When finished, the project will move “car stacking” backups from school-related traffic from West Highbanks Road to both Donald Smith Boulevard and the expanded interior access road to DeBary Elementary School.

“Traffic will turn into the school property, circle around the existing parking lot and back out to Donald Smith Blvd.,” the city said in a statement Wednesday.

The backups on West Highbanks Road have long frustrated parents as well as motorists without children at the school.

West Highbanks, a two-lane road, is a major east-west connector in DeBary, providing access to popular parks, several neighborhoods and the St. Johns River.

Some have feared the backups from DeBary's only public school would block first-responders during emergencies. Residents who live near the school at 88 West Highbanks Road have complained about vehicles crossing their properties to get around traffic jams.

Fixing the problem is one of the top goals of Mayor Karen Chasez and other members of the DeBary City Council.

As a result, it was one of the main priorities of Carmen Rosamonda when he became city manager in April 2019.

“The city council has been laser focused on resolving many of the long-standing problems in the community,” Rosamonda said in a statement. “The DeBary Elementary School traffic and public safety issue will soon be behind us.”

Under the plan approved by both governments, the Volusia County School Board will control all engineering, procurement and construction management while DeBary provides oversight.

The next steps are developing engineering plans, hiring a contractor, and construction. 

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