Skip to main content

Tag: city center

Attention drivers: Traffic light has changed

Attention drivers: Traffic light has changed

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

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.

Holmes Beach road work causes traffic delays

Holmes Beach road work causes traffic delays

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Featured, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Anyone driving through the largest Anna Maria Island city knows that drivers need more patience than usual to make it through the traffic congestion snaking through the center of the community.

With increased traffic due to the start of the winter tourism season and two roadway projects, travel time delays aren’t expected to decrease until at least the end of December.

The issues stem from the start of a long-planned city center roadway renovation project at the intersection of Marina and Gulf drives along with work from a Manatee County utilities project.

The city center renovations include the addition of sidewalks, crosswalks, green space and lighting through the intersection as well as improvements to bicycle and vehicular travel lanes. To accommodate the work currently being done down Marina Drive from the Gulf Drive intersection to just past the Island Branch Library, that section of the road is closed with traffic diverted down Holmes Boulevard and the coastal section of Gulf Drive. Ongoing work includes the installation of concrete curbing and sidewalks, infiltration trenches and new drainage structures as well as regrading and repaving the street.

City Engineer Sage Kamiya said that the work on Marina Drive is scheduled to be mostly completed by the end of December with traffic lanes reopened as work allows. Once work is completed on Marina Drive, additional work will need to be done on Gulf Drive.

Addressing the somewhat controversial four-way stop temporarily installed at the intersection of Gulf Drive and Holmes Boulevard, Kamiya and Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer released a joint statement on Nov. 4 on Facebook stating that they believe the four-way stop is still the best traffic control method for the area.

The statement said they looked into the installation of a temporary traffic light and putting a police officer at the intersection to direct traffic as alternatives. Using a police officer to direct traffic was dismissed because the intersection is too narrow to allow for an officer to safely direct two-way traffic and reducing traffic to one lane would cause more traffic delays. Cost also was a factor as that solution would require a full-time police officer to be onsite at the intersection.

A temporary traffic light was also dismissed due to not being considered as effective in moving traffic as the four-way stop.

Adding to drivers’ woes is an ongoing potable water project by Manatee County which was supposed to be completed prior to the start of the city center project. Instead, both projects are continuing simultaneously with the county project first disrupting traffic along Holmes Boulevard and then blocking off a section of 52nd Street the week of Nov. 7, which kept traffic along that street limited for most of the week.

Letter to the Editor: Nightmare at Gulf Drive and Holmes Boulevard

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Letter to the Editor, Opinion.

It’s a scary location and those of us in Anna Maria city and the north side of Holmes Beach who pass through the intersection often should understand. With the City Center road closure on Marina Drive and the still ongoing work on Holmes Boulevard, all traffic (each car) must come to a stop at this intersection. Action to date by Holmes Beach authorities amounts to a fourth stop sign be- ing strapped to a telephone pole.

As drivers go through the intersection, the game of whose turn is it is interesting – while also frightening – to experience as unkind gestures and words are exchanged. Add pedestrians navigating the intersection on the single crosswalk across Gulf Drive. My wife and I have survived a near miss while I have witnessed more as drivers are now faced with five decisions.

In the morning, several delivery trucks stop on Holmes Boulevard servicing the many businesses in the area. Gridlock occurs, drivers are out of cars arguing with delivery truck operators, again exchanging gestures and salty language. One would think you were in Manhattan, not our island paradise.

It’s October, a “quieter” time on the island, less traffic and people. This situation will only get worse.

A few suggestions:

1. A cop to direct traffic during the busiest hours;

2. A temporary street light system intelligently programmed to reduce backups and flow traffic;

3. Transition the parallel parking on the west side of Holmes Boulevard by the Freckled Fin to a Deliveries Only space to assure two travels lanes remain open;

4. Add a much-needed crosswalk across Holmes Boulevard to Vinny’s Kitchen to connect the many shops on both sides of the street.

Happy Halloween and be safe.

David Barstow

Holmes Beach