With two, large construction projects slated to begin within the Alta Vista neighborhood as early as this fall, the neighborhood association was worried about the increase in traffic.

Last weekend, the association neared completion of phase one of its three-part plan to slow cars along its streets. All but the finishing touches were put on a small roundabout at Shade Avenue and Novus Street, which is one of three gateways into Alta Vista.

A new Publix supermarket is expected to open next year at U.S. 41 and Wood Street, and construction on a mixed-use development on School Avenue could begin this fall.

“We’re going to see a lot more cars, so we’re trying to do everything we can to slow traffic,” said Juanita Rawlinson, Alta Vista Neighborhood Association president.

The neighborhood association asked the city two years ago to build the roundabout. The final cost won’t be known for another two to three weeks.

Rawlinson said all other measures to get drivers to step lighter on the gas pedal have failed, including speed bumps on Shade Avenue and Wood Street.

“Wood Street is a cut-through from U.S. 41 to Tuttle Avenue,” she said. “We did a traffic count, and 10,000 cars drove down Wood in a 48-hour period. That’s a small residential road.”

Alta Vista also has plans for its other gateways. A median will be built at Hatton Street and Shade Avenue, and two pillars will be placed at Wood Street and East Avenue.

The hope is that all of those measures will cut down on speeders through the Alta Vista neighborhood.
“We are going to do everything possible,” Rawlinson said.

Contact Robin Roy at rroy@yourobserver.com

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