Rural U.S. 27 Access Roads Being Studied

By GARY PINNELL

LAKE PLACID — Wouldn’t it have been nice to have access roads along U.S. 27 in Sebring, Avon Park and Lake Placid?

It’s too late for the urban areas, but rural parts of the corridor are still being developed, so a state transportation consultant is studying how to implement highway access points along U.S. 27, from U.S. 98 to S.R. 70.

Traffic is slowed by intersections, openings in medians, traffic signals and interchanges, said Tom Ross, a senior project manager with CH2M Hill Engineering in Orlando. He spoke Wednesday to the county Long Range Transportation Committee.

If the number of access points to a busy highway are reduced, traffic will move more efficiently and the number of crashes will be reduced, he said.

For instance, if two businesses locate side by side, they may be required to share a common driveway. Several businesses may need an access road in the front or the back of their properties.

Should U-turns be eliminated? No, said Ross. Traffic studies have shown U-turns are safer than left turns.

At every four-way intersection, traffic can come from 18 different directions, Ross demonstrated with a graphic. That includes left turns, right turns, U-turns and no turns from just four lanes.

The state has developed a set of plans that developers and planners can follow, Ross said. The state standards for a class 3 highway are to allow a median opening or traffic signal every half-mile, a directional median opening every quarter-mile, and a driveway every 660 feet, if the speed limit is greater than 45 mph.

Ross’ presentation came just in time, said Lake Placid Town Clerk Arlene Tuck. The town has a long-range transportation committee of its own, and members are studying standards for the developing areas. The committee is hoping to get agreement with the county and state.

“I think it’s a good idea,” she said. CH2M Hill “can do the study, and we don’t have to pay for it.”

A public hearing will be set this summer, and the town of Lake Placid and the Highlands County commissioners will be briefed.