How is the public being informed of the project progress?

The public has been kept informed, and allowed to provide input, throughout the project development process. Several open houses and information meetings were conducted, along with distribution of project related newsletters.

See the Public/Agency Involvement section above to view summaries of the public meetings held to date.

The County also sends out frequent project progress updates via e-mail that refers interested parties back to this website for up-to-date information. You may subscribe to these updates by clicking this link. You can also follow project progress on Facebook and Twitter.

Which roadways will be constructed or reconstructed?

1. County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) will be reconstructed from 19th Street to Northwest Centennial Drive, where it will tie into the proposed Trunk Highway 61/County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) roundabout. Portions of intersecting roadways such as 12th Street, 8th Street and 4th Street will also need to be improved.
2. A backage road (an extension of First Avenue Northwest) will be constructed from 8th Street going west, to end in a cul-de-sac behind the BP Gas Station.
3. An overpass has been constructed at County Road 83 from 15th Street Southwest, over I-35, to Everton Avenue.

Please view the Preliminary Road Design Layouts section below to see a layout of the roadway designs.

Are additional traffic lanes being added to County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue)?

The project will accommodate two lanes of traffic in each direction (as it is currently) with a center, raised median separating traffic, complimented with exclusive right- and left-turn lanes. At the busier intersections, dual turn lanes will be provided on certain approaches. The bridge and ramps at I-35 will be expanded to better accommodate existing and future traffic volumes.

When will construction begin?

The Broadway Avenue Improvement Project will begin in Spring 2011.

Please visit the Schedules page to see the planned project schedule.

How long will the construction last?

Broadway Avenue, including the new interchange at Interstate 35, should be substantially complete between 19th Street and 8th Street by the end of 2011. The remaining portion of Broadway Avenue from 8th Street to Centennial Drive should be substantially complete by Fall 2012.

Will the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) Bridge be closed for construction?

Yes. The bridge will be removed in May 2011, to expedite the construction process, and to minimize disruption to traffic flow and to businesses. By closing the bridge completely, the contractor should be able to reconstruct the bridge in one construction season versus two if we attempted to build the bridge under traffic.

Will Broadway Avenue be closed?

No. Construction staging plans have been developed to allow for one lane of traffic flow in each direction while construction is progressing.

How will customers get to my business if the bridge is closed?

Temporary ramp access to/from County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) will be provided at the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) bridge. However, to get across I-35, a local detour route will be established using Everton Avenue, the new County Road 83 overpass, and 12th Street. Temporary ramp access to/from I-35 will also be provided at the County Road 83 overpass when the local detour is in operation; however, the ramps will be removed once the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) bridge is reopened. The contractor will be responsible for maintaining reasonable access to all businesses during construction.

Please visit the Construction page to see a graphic of the planned local detour route.

Will I lose my driveway access to County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue)?

No. All driveway accesses will be reconstructed in the same locations. The contractor will work with each owner as to the timing of driveway access reconstruction.

How will access be "managed" along the corridor?

Access will be managed on County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) by properly spacing roadway intersections, consolidating access points where practical, and separating the roadway with a raised median. While this may slightly alter how people get to their destinations, the completed project will enhance access to businesses by reducing congestion, and improving traffic flow along County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue).

Please use the following links to learn more about the principles and practices of proper access management used throughout the country.

Access Management: Balancing Access and Mobility: Answers to Your Questions - Florida Department of Transportation
http://www.dot.state.fl.us/planning/systems/sm/accman/pdfs/ampromo3.pdf

Safe Access is Good for Business - FHWA
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/amprimer/access_mgmt_primer.htm

http://www.accessmanagement.info/AM2006/AMisGoodBusiness.html

Will all or parts of my property along County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) need to be acquired? If so, how will I be contacted?

Significant effort was put into developing a solution to County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) that minimizes impacts to private property. There are no plans to purchase entire parcels along the corridor. However, the County has acquired some permanent and temporary easements for roadways, utilities, trails and sidewalks.

Will there be any assessments to my property?

The County does not assess properties for roadway improvement projects. The City has stated it has no plans for assessments as part of the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) project.

What specific safety improvements are occurring at the 12th Street and County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) intersection?

1. The County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) left-turn phasing will be modified from protected/permissive (green arrow and then green circular) to protected only (green arrow only).
2. To reduce weaving south of the intersection, the existing eastbound to southbound free right-turn add lane will be removed from the intersection. (This is also needed to accommodate the westbound dual left-turn lanes.)
3. The north-south roadway (12th Street) will be slightly realigned to create a more perpendicular intersection.
4. The median will provide better delineation of opposing traffic lanes at the intersection and remove left-turning traffic (vehicle conflicts/driver confusion) at nearby/adjacent driveways/intersections.
5. The improvements at the interchange, and the new backage road, will reduce congestion at 12th Street, which will, in turn, improve safety.

Is it safe to make a "U-Turn"?

Recent studies show U-Turns are a safe alternative to direct left-turn movements, and most drivers do not find U-Turns an inconvenience. U-Turns at signalized intersections on County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) will accommodate standard sized vehicles with trailers; however, large trucks will need to use alternative routes, such as the backage road.

Why do we need medians east of 12th Street?

County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) will be reconstructed from 19th Street to Northwest Centennial Drive, where it will tie into the proposed Trunk Highwat 61/County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) roundabout. This length of the corridor is zoned “commercial” and the City anticipates it will redevelop over time that, in turn, will result in increased traffic levels. There is a significant benefit to upgrading the safety and functionality of the entire roadway at this time, to establish proper access points, and to implement a safer roadway, that includes channelized turn lanes delineated by a raised median. Moreover, aging public utilities under the roadway, and the poor condition of the current pavement, make the timing of the Broadway Avenue Improvement Project ideal.

Medians improve safety and operational efficiency to the roadway by:

• Reducing conflict points and areas
• Reducing crashes
• Reducing peak-hour traffic congestion
• Physical separation between opposing traffic flows
• Reduce slow and go operations on the roadway, which often frustrate drivers
• Improve travel times

There are numerous studies by the Federal Highway Administration that indicate the safety benefits of median improvements, and also address concerns raised by business communities. Please refer to Question 2 under "Access Management" to learn more.

What additional accommodations will be made for pedestrians and bicyclists?

A 6-foot sidewalk and 6-foot boulevard are being proposed on the north side of County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) and an 8-foot multi-use trail with a 6-foot boulevard is being proposed on the south side. These accommodations will be carried across the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) bridge. Pedestrian signals and marked crosswalks will be provided at signalized intersections along the corridor. The County is also constructing a pedestrian overpass at the Hardwood Creek Trail crossing.

Are roundabouts part of the solution?

The City has implemented a roundabout at Trunk Highway 61 and County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue). No other roundabouts are being proposed along the County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) corridor. For more information on Roundabouts, please click here.

How will pedestrians and bicyclists cross County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue)?

The project will install new traffic signals at the I-35 ramps, 12^th Street, 8^th Street, and 4^th Street. Controlled pedestrian crosswalks will be provided across County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) at these locations. These crosswalks will be signalized with ADA-compliant push buttons and countdown-type signals. Currently, no controlled crossings are available between 12^th Street and 4^th Street. Additionally, marked crosswalks will be provided at the proposed roundabout at Highway 61, and a pedestrian overpass of County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) will allow for free-flow travel of pedestrians and bicyclists on the Hardwood Creek Trail.

How will this plan accommodate the needs of people with mobility, hearing, or vision-impairments?

Federal law requires that public rights-of-way accommodate users with disabilities. This project will fully comply with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including but not limited to ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps at crosswalk locations, ADA-compliant traffic signals and pedestrian pushbuttons, and ADA-compliant truncated-dome surface treatments for those with vision impairments.

How will delivery trucks be able to access businesses along County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue)?

The project includes construction of a back-age road behind businesses on the north side of County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue). Currently, semi trucks are able to make a left turn into businesses but must back out across the sidewalk and into traffic on County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) because of the inability to turn around within the parking lots. After construction, semi trucks coming from I-35 will be able to access businesses via the back-age road by turning left at the traffic signal on 8^th Street, and exit the parking lots by driving forward onto County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) to return to I-35.

What is being done to minimize impacts to the natural environment?

1. Impacts to natural resources as a result of the proposed project are minimal.
2. Wetland impacts will be mitigated with replacement. Alignments have been designed to consider impacts to sensitive resources such as wetlands. Infiltration basins will be constructed at both County Road 83 and County Road 2 (Broadway Avenue) to treat storm-water from the project.
3. Air quality is anticipated to be improved as a result of free-flowing traffic (less idling time) coupled with higher fuel efficiency standards in the future, which will lower overall Mobile Source Air Toxic (MSAT) levels.