Upgrades studied for St. Lucie West Boulevard

By CHRIS YOUNG
City and private engineers have made a preliminary study of road improvements to St. Lucie West Boulevard to reduce accidents and increase safety.

The boulevard, a major east-west thoroughfare, may get median barriers and extended turn lanes at intersections between Peacock and Bayshore boulevards. If City Manager Don Cooper and City Council approve the plans, more detailed construction plans would be done, said Kim Graham, city engineer.

The plans were spurred by anticipated widening of the bridge over Interstate 95, said Councilwoman Michelle Berger.

"We definitely need more turning lanes, like off Peacock and Cashmere," she said.
Growth of the city and more stores and attractions in St. Lucie West have meant more residents are using the roads. The boulevard started to exceed its capacity in 2003, said Engineering Director Walter England, approaching "parking lot conditions."

In 2004, the road was targeted by the Metropolitan Planning Organization to have its traffic signals timed so that drivers going the speed limit hit more green lights than red lights.
The preliminary plans include cutting back landscaping to allow greater visibility, extending turn lanes off of St. Lucie West Boulevard including west of Peacock coming off the I-95 off-ramp, and adding medians along the boulevard.

All remaining median openings will get "peanuts," that will force drivers to turn onto the boulevard from one direction only, Graham said in a staff memo.

Intersections would also get Americans with Disabilities Act access and improvements, including Braille signage, Berger said.