VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A downtown New Smyrna Beach road prone to crashes is undergoing some changes this week.

What You Need To Know

  • Orange Street is prone to crashes at Washington Street

  • New Smyrna Beach leaders voted in May to make it one-way

  • Orange Street became one-way as of Tuesday

On Tuesday, Orange Street became a one-way street between Washington Street and Mary Avenue.

“Honest with you, I avoid it. I don’t go south on this road much," said Dave Robinson, who co-owns Gulfstream Glass of Volusia County on Orange Street. "I typically go up and go around and try to avoid the whole opportunity to get in an accident."

Since the start of the year, 10 crashes have taken place at the intersection of Orange Street and Washington Street. The latest happened Monday.

Most of the crashes occur when vehicles traveling southbound on Orange Street pull out into oncoming traffic and vehicles going east on Washington Street hit them, Robinson said.

Crashes continue, even though officials posted a dangerous intersection sign on Orange Street.

“They put signs up. It doesn’t really help,” he said.

Since southbound traffic causes the most problems, the city of New Smyrna Beach in May voted to make Orange Street one-way, for northbound drivers.

“It’s going to take some getting used to, but in the end, it’s going to make that intersection safer, which is very important,” Robinson said.