- June 12, 2025
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I've read with great interest your two articles in the most recent East County Observer ("Go East" and "Manatee offers residents a $23.5 million surprise" May 8) and have some additional thoughts.
As a former county employee of 22 years in the Public Works department as the utility planner/designer/project coordinator, one of the basic tasks required of new development included a traffic study to be performed. This would have been accomplished when the original building was developed, accounting for the usual morning and early evening traffic by the on-site offices.
However, moving many of the County's planning and development services to the Town Center Parkway site will add a multitude of traffic from developers, engineers and the vast number of county residents each and every day. As anyone knows, this site has a one-direction ingress and egress along Town Center Parkway to the four-way stop. The shortest route to I-75 and points west is along Market Street with the hybrid round-about, which is already congested.
Before the county proceeds with the site purchase and as part of the transparency we all have desired, a full traffic study should be undertaken to determine the full extent of the traffic impact and any required remedies to the existing streets, including anticipated construction costs for road improvements, if any.
We need to require the county's administration and commissioners to follow and adhere to the same development criteria that all development is held accountable to. Thank you for your attention to these comments.
–Dave Branning, Country Creek
Just about every week, animals are hit by cars and killed on the stretch of road on University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch between Bourneside Boulevard and Lorraine Road.
About five weeks ago, a dead boar was on the median lying on its back with all four legs sticking straight up into the air. It was so sad to see. About four weeks ago, there was a dead deer lying on its side, nearly decapitated. It was horrifying. Two weeks ago, there was a tiny dead baby crane with its parents hovering over the body, mourning the loss of their baby.
It was heartbreaking. (Last week) there was another dead deer. At this point, the amount of drivers killing animals is reprehensible.
I can maybe explain away that the boar and the deer “ran into the car,” but what about the baby crane’s demise? Did the driver not see the baby? Was the driver distracted? Was the driver speeding?
I drive the speed limit of 45 miles per hour on that stretch of road, and slow down or stop when wildlife is close to the roadway or crossing the road. I have been tailgated, honked at, received the flashing headlight signal, and even bypassed by a speeding driver on that single lane road.
The massive amount of new construction in Lakewood Ranch, particularly along the stretch of road between Bourneside Boulevard and Lorraine Road on University Parkway, is displacing our wildlife. Drivers should obey the posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour on that road. Drivers should be especially aware of our precious migrant wildlife.
“Take it easy. Don’t let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy.”
–Angela P. Flesché, Lakewood Ranch
The Observer published a listing of road projects designated by Manatee County staff as "East County Priorities." (County Road Projects Ranked, April 24)
The proposed roundabout at University Parkway and Deer Drive raises serious concern. There could be massive traffic problems on University Parkway during the typical 12-to-18-month construction time, as motorists from the heavily populated areas east of this location try to get west.
There are few if any alternate routes.
Many drivers could be cutting through the Country Club, creating hazardous conditions on the limited road system. Access to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center could be difficult for people in eastern Lakewood Ranch.
Being tied up in a county-created traffic mess while trying to reach the emergency room is unacceptable.
Last year, a small paving project caused difficult traffic along University Parkway in that same area. Delays during a roundabout construction could be exponentially worse.
Why do we need this roundabout anyway? The traffic light there works just fine. If it's not broken why fix it?
There seems to be a mentality among the county's traffic planning staff that a new roundabout can fix any traffic problem. It cannot. I urge readers who might share similar concerns to contact the commissioners.
–Roger Bonke, Lakewood Ranch
