FDOT gives green light to Rye Road roundabout

EAST COUNTY — The Florida Department of Transportation could circle the intersection at State Road 64 and Rye Road for a roundabout to improve traffic flow.

Department engineers have determined construction of a roundabout at the location is feasible, would improve traffic flow and eliminate cuing problems along Rye Road. The roundabout, which would likely have a speed limit of no more than 25 mph, would include a right-turn lane from Rye Road, heading west onto S.R. 64, FDOT spokesman Robin Stublen said.

FDOT officials now will meet with representatives from Manatee County and Lakewood Ranch to determine how to proceed, Stublen said.

“That process probably will take a couple of months before anything is finalized,” he added. “The study does not have the cost at this time. We were doing the study to see if it would work, so now we’re going to go forward with the rest of this.”

FDOT has no funding or timeline in place for the project, should it move forward.

Manatee County transportation officials had requested a traffic signal at the intersection in July 2014, but FDOT officials said one was not warranted; instead, it concluded construction of a right-turn lane from Rye Road onto S.R. 64 westbound would resolve 80% of traffic problems at that location.

Manatee transportation officials, however, wanted a different solution, and agreed conceptually with a traffic signal or a roundabout. 

Stublen said the roundabout design may not be necessary to fix immediate traffic problems on Rye Road, but it will benefit the roadway considering future development in the Rye Road area.

Nearby residents have mixed feelings on the idea.

“Of all the choices for improvements at the intersection that has to be the most asinine,” resident Tim Goodwin said. “I would hope there’s still a chance to tilt FDOT away from that thinking.”

But neighbor Rick Lundholm said a roundabout would work well at the intersection.

“Having driven through England and Scotland over the years, I’ve had hands-on experience and would prefer the roundabout,” he said. 

Both hope something can be done to fix cuing on Rye Road, which they say has become dangerous.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].