Traffic and road issues were a theme of Tuesday’s meeting of the Sumter County Board of Commissioners.
A Village of Hillsborough resident reported what he called a dangerous situation at the intersection of Buena Vista Boulevard and State Road 44.
Commissioners also approved traffic management changes on County Road 466, an agreement for improvements on County Road 462 and engineering plans for improvements on Buena Vista and Morse boulevards, as well as a resolution to take over maintenance of several roadways in The Villages.
Hillsborough resident William Steele told commissioners it’s difficult to see the road divider when making a left turn onto Buena Vista from SR 44, especially at night. He said recently he saw a driver turn into the wrong lane as he was headed southbound from the last traffic circle.
County Administrator Bradley Arnold said county staff would look into the issue, even though it involves a state road.
Several serious crashes have occurred over the years at the intersection, although they were during the day and did not appear to involve difficulty seeing the lane divider.
Seven people were injured – one seriously – when two cars collided at the intersection in March 2014. In May 2016, a driver collided with a trailer being towed by another vehicle when she swerved to avoid a car that stopped at a yellow light. Three people were injured in an April 2017 accident.
Improvements on CR 466 include installing flasher-control time switches on school zone flashers, which allows remote access, and adding cameras at U.S. 301, Belvedere Boulevard and Buena Vista Boulevard.
The agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation would provide money to upgrade CR 462 between NE 15th Drive and County Road 228 in northwest Wildwood. At the curve, the roadway would be widened to 24 feet, with eight-foot shoulders, and drainage would be improved.
Commissioners approved a $32,000 contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates to prepare engineering plans for pavement improvements on Buena Vista between Lake Miona Drive and SR 44 and on Morse Boulevard from about 1,000 feet south of Stillwater Trail to SR 44. The county will seek a grant from the FDOT to pay for the improvements.
The county will take over maintenance of Parr Drive between Belleview Drive and Blackthorne Terrace; Campbell Avenue between CR 466 and Parr Drive; Preston Drive between CR 466 and Parr Drive; and Blackthorne Terrace between CR 466 and Parr Drive.