FDOT gives green light to signal at Greenbrook

GREENBROOK — Even before Joe Sidiski and his wife, Bonnie, moved into their Greenbrook home in early 2004, they hoped safety would be improved at the entrance to their new community. There, at the intersection of Greenbrook Boulevard and State Road 70, the couple watched emergency workers respond to an accident and a helicopter fly away with injured passengers.

Now, the Florida Department of Transportation has determined a traffic signal is warranted at the intersection of S.R. 70 and Greenbrook Boulevard, at Greenbrook’s westernmost entrance.

“That intersection has been what I consider to be a dangerous intersection since I’ve lived here,” Joe Sidiski said. “You are turning onto a high-speed road. It’s only gotten worse with the road now being six lanes. I’m very glad they have decided it’s appropriate. That’s really a step in the right direction.”

FDOT spokesman Robin Stublen said FDOT is working on plans to design and construct the signal.

“We have to program and we have to plan,” he said. “We’re going forward like we do with any other traffic signal.”

FDOT does not have a timeline or estimated costs at this time because the signal still needs to be engineered and designed. But FDOT will fund the project.

FDOT has looked at the intersection several times before but, until recently, determined that a traffic signal was not warranted.

Meanwhile, residents have complained for years that the intersection is dangerous, particularly for drivers turning left out of Greenbrook to head west on S.R. 70. Manatee County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh took up efforts to further the project about a year ago.

Greenbrook resident and Community Development District 4 Supervisor Keith Davey, who leads the community’s safety committee meetings, said he is grateful for the news but hopes signal timing will be controlled to prevent long lines for Greenbrook residents trying to turn west onto S.R. 70 once the signal is installed.

 “I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t want a light at the intersection,” Davey said.

At that intersection, immediately across from Greenbrook’s entrance, Davis Development plans to build a 280-unit apartment complex on 18 acres at S.R. 70 and Pope Road.

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch developer sold the land to DD Sarasota II, a subsidiary of Davis Development, in November.

Davis Development constructed the luxury 237-unit The Venue apartment complex across from Lakewood Ranch Main Street.