Edgewater signal installation begins

LAKEWOOD RANCH — More than a year after Manatee County deemed it necessary to install a traffic signal at the University Parkway entrance to the Edgewater community, residents their will see their dream come true.

Installation of a new signal there begins Aug. 1. 

Contractor MSB Services has up to 240 days from the start of its July 17 contract to extend the eastbound left turn lane, improve the median and construct the traffic signal at the intersection of University Parkway and Waterview Boulevard. 

“It’s very well needed here to regulate traffic flow and especially for safety,” Edgewater resident Joe Butch said. “It’s an accident waiting to happen (there). We welcome (the signal) in our neighborhood.”

Edgewater resident Mike Finney agreed, adding trying to turn east from Edgewater onto University Parkway can be difficult, particularly when traffic from the corporate park entrance, across University, is attempting to cross the median to head west, toward Interstate 75. 

“I’m so glad it’s finally come about,” Finney said. “When they put that light in, that’ll enhance safety immensely. I have nothing but good things to say about it and it’s long overdue.”

Sage Kamiya, deputy director of traffic management for Manatee County, said signal design meets county standards and includes providing traffic signalization for each of the four approaches to the intersection. Structural supports will be steel mast arms. 

“The signal timing will also meet applicable state and county standards and will be coordinated with traffic signals to the east and west of this location,” he said.

Manatee County has budgeted $600,000 for the project in its Fiscal Year 2015 to FY2019 capital improvement plan.

During the design process, in June 2014, HDR, the engineer on record for the project, noticed alignment issues with the turn signals that would cause line-of-sight issues for vehicles trying to make left-hand turns opposite one another. Correcting the design delayed the project by about two months and added about $5,000 to the total project cost.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].