HOLMES BEACH – Anyone who’s driven through the intersection at Marina and Gulf drives lately may have noticed a significant change in the flow of traffic due to the installation of a new traffic light and new signage.
The intersection was remodeled in 2023 as a part of the city center revitalization project, which realigned bicycle and traffic lanes and added crosswalks for pedestrians at the intersection. With the new traffic light, vehicles turning right from Gulf onto Marina are required to stop and wait for an arrow.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that the changes will help drivers remember to make that stop.
Before the intersection was improved, traffic turning right onto Marina Drive was continuous with a yield sign and a merge lane near Keyes Marina. When the seawall along the east side of the road began to experience structural problems, the merge lane was deemed unsafe and closed to motorists. While drivers were required by law to stop before turning right, it didn’t always happen.
As a part of the intersection revitalization project, the seawall was repaired and the old merge lane turned into greenspace, a bicycle lane and a new sidewalk. With drivers still not coming to a complete stop before turning right, Tokajer said the decision to add new signals and signage to the intersection was made for public safety reasons.
Now, there is a right turn arrow for vehicles turning right from Gulf to Marina along with a sign instructing motorists to stop for pedestrians. Tokajer also said when a pedestrian activates the crosswalk, all the vehicular lights turn red to allow pedestrians to safely cross the intersection.
Pedestrian safety in the Gulf/Marina intersection has been a concern for years. Prior to the 2023 addition of the crosswalks, there were no crosswalks at that intersection. Pedestrians had to walk a block north or west to cross. And while some did, many would walk through the intersection regardless of the lack of a crosswalk.
Two pedestrians were struck in the intersection on May 12, 2023 by a driver making a left-hand turn from Marina to Gulf who failed to yield to pedestrians. The driver stated that he didn’t see the two women, one of whom died from injuries sustained in the crash.
