Plans for I-95 exits in PSL on display

By HILLARY COPSEY
Two new Interstate 95 exits into the city will make traffic flow more smoothly through the whole region, transportation engineers say.

Residents can see whether they agree with that assessment of the Becker Road and Crosstown Parkway interchanges during public hearings this week.

"Without the ramps, there would be significant failures at various locations in the city's overall roadway network and on I-95 itself," traffic engineers wrote in a report to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The department decided in June that growth justified building the interchanges. Construction on the ramps is expected to begin in early 2007 and finish by 2009.

Transportation planners expect the new interchanges to change the way people move through the region, alleviating gridlock on the city's existing roadways. When motorists can take Crosstown Parkway and Becker Road to I-95, Port St. Lucie and St. Lucie West boulevards will have less traffic.

Also, once Martin County completes its $30 million Western Palm City Corridor, Becker Road will open up to Martin County residents and lighten I-95 traffic using the Martin Highway interchange. Work is expected to begin next year on the Palm City roadway.

"One of the keys to improving the entire region is connectivity, because what's unique to this area is you have many natural and man-made barriers," said Andre Groenhoff, transportation planning director for project consulting firm Keith & Schnars. "You now need to correct some of the shortcomings of the past."

Planning experts also say the Becker interchange will alleviate traffic on local roads.
"I think it will divert some of those trips heading south, seeking access," Treasure Coast Regional Planning Director Michael Busha said. "They'll no longer have to make those trips on local streets through the city or Martin County."

Increasing connectivity and making sections of the city easier to get to from I-95 also is expected to jumpstart economic development. Western developers — including Core Communities, which is working to build a regional mall south of Gatlin Boulevard — are paying for the interchanges. Each is expected to cost about $15 million.

"We can't develop the commercial side of this county without having the necessary infrastructure and road systems," St. Lucie Economic Development Director Larry Daum said.

THE HEARINGS

• Crosstown Parkway: 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Center, 2195 S.E. Airoso Blvd.
• Becker Road: 6 p.m. Thursday at the Community Center.
• For more information, call the project hotline at (866) 785-8243.
• To review the interchange plans, visit the Engineering Department at City Hall, 121 S.W. Port St. Lucie Blvd.