CORTEZ – New traffic lights recently installed on Cortez Road have unexpectedly caught some drivers off-guard. The new traffic control signals are located just east of the West Manatee Fire Rescue Station 2 and near the entrance to the Cortez Clam Factory restaurant.
The new traffic signals are located at the Cortez Road and Royal Palm Drive intersection. Cortez Road, also known as State Road 684, falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). A 2024 FDOT traffic study cited the following benefits of installing a traffic light at that location:
• Improved safety
• Reduction in total crashes
• Improved intersection awareness
• Improved pedestrian safety
• Nearest signalized pedestrian crossing is nearly one mile away
• Visually impaired pedestrians in the area
• Signal will provide traffic gaps and safer entry to SR 684 from adjacent side streets
• Mitigate side street-related crashes immediately adjacent to Royal Palm Drive.
The 2024 FDOT traffic study outlines crashes that occurred in the area between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2023. During that period, there were 25 crashes in that area, four of which were fatal or incapacitating.
