Roadwork alert: These are the top priorities for improving Brevard's highways, major roads
The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization has a long list of priority road projects it would like to see come to fruition in the coming years.
But Georganna Gillette, the agency's executive director, says the lack of funding is keeping much of the work from happening faster.
"It's not a 'wish list,' " Gillette said. "It is projects that are extremely critical for safety, mobility and quality of life. It's a long road to implement, and it takes longer and costs more than many people realize. I am concerned about the lack of state and federal funds to meet our transportation needs. We're doing the very best that we can with the funding that we have."
The Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization has many major road projects in the pipeline for the next five years. Some of the big ones are outlined in the agency's 2024-2028 Transportation Improvement Program.
The Transportation Improvement Program identifies projects for maintaining and improving Brevard County’s transportation system, with mostly federal and state sources.
Space Coast Transportations Planning Organization officials say it's a realistic forecast of projects that have committed state or federal funds, so it serves as the SCTPO’s short-range plan.
"We just need to be clear that we have a lot of transportation needs," Gillette said. "We need to be very clear what our priorities are, and find innovative ways to get our fair share" of the funding.
Here are some of the highlights of the SCTPO's priorities:
TOP TRANSPORTATION PRIORITIES IN BREVARD
Ellis Road widening
In 2023, the SCTPO collaborated with various partners to advance its No. 1 priority project, the widening of Ellis Road from John Rodes Boulevard to Wickham Road.
Partners include Brevard County, the Florida Department of Transportation, the city of Melbourne, the city of West Melbourne and the Melbourne Orlando International Airport.
The project will include widening to four lanes, with 12-foot travel lanes, 7-foot bike lanes and 6-foot sidewalks on both sides.
Ellis Road has become increasingly congested as a main east-west thoroughfare for both commuter and freight traffic.
The Florida Department of Transportation constructed a new interchange at Interstate 95 and Ellis Road in 2020, which has increased traffic along Ellis Road, a direct link to the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, and to the surrounding aerospace and aeronautical economic centers.
Project status: Right-of-way acquisition is fully funded and underway. Collectively, the SCTPO team has invested $34.1 million into the construction phase, due to the urgency of the project's transportation infrastructure challenge.
Grant development is underway to fund the construction shortfall of $46.9 million.
Once all funds are programmed, construction could begin in the 2026 budget year.
State Road 528 (Beachline Expressway) widening and bridge replacements
This project involves widening State Road 528 from four to six lanes from east of Industry Road to State Road 401 (Port Canaveral interchange) by adding a lane in each direction in the median.
The project includes reconstructing the interchanges at U.S. 1 and S.R. 3, and reconstructing the bridge over the Indian River. The project also plans to reconstruct the interchanges at Banana River Drive, S.R. 401 and George King Boulevard, and to reconstruct a longer bridge span over the Banana River. A shared-use trail also is planned on the north side of S.R. 528 from U.S. 1 to S.R. 401 at the port.
Project status: Right-of-way phase began in late 2023.
Unfunded phase: Construction ($600 million estimate).
State Road 401 bridge replacement
The purpose is to develop and analyze alternatives for improving the bridges to address access, future mobility and safety needs.
S.R. 401 provides a vital connection to the Port Canaveral's operations, including major cruise terminals and cargo terminals. The S.R. 401 bridges serve as the primary access to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Naval Ordnance Test Unit, facilities for the U.S. Coast Guard and access to Space Florida operations.
Project status: Project development and environment study underway.
Unfunded phase: Design and construction.
OTHER BIG BREVARD PROJECTS
Transportation Management Center
Design is complete for a new regional Transportation Management Center, which will be located off of the Pineda Causeway, near U.S. 1. This resource will serve as a hub for the county’s intelligent transportation system for the multiple transportation agencies to work together to implement traffic safety and reliability solutions.
The center will monitor local area traffic and manage a network of systems more efficiently to support connected vehicles.
Project status: Construction is anticipated to begin later this year.
U.S. 192 and Hollywood Boulevard/Evans Road intersection improvements
The project aims to increase capacity at the intersection by adding additional turn lanes and a sidewalk on the east side of Evans. Other improvements include milling and resurfacing, replacing existing mast arms, drainage and intelligent transportation system improvements.
Project status: Construction began in January, and is estimated to be completed in the spring of 2024.
Malabar Road (St. Johns Heritage Parkway to Minton Road)
This project is needed to resolve issues related to congestion, safety and multimodal enhancements.
Project status: Project development and environment study underway. Design funded in the 2025 fiscal year ($10 million).
Unfunded phase: Right of way and construction.
State Road A1A Complete Street/curb and gutter (Long Point Road to George King Boulevard)
The State Road A1A Complete Street improvements in Cape Canaveral intends to create a corridor that safety accommodates vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists, and provides for speed management for the community.
FDOT has worked closely with residents and the city of Cape Canaveral to develop a preferred option for design.
The planned roadway would provide two 10-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction, separated by a raised median. Median openings and improved left-turn lanes will be provided. A wider 9-foot-wide sidewalk is planned on both sides to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists.
Project status: Under design.
Unfunded phase: Right of way and construction.
State Road A1A (International Drive to Long Point Road)
This project proposes to enhance safety on State Road A1A (Astronaut Boulevard) from south of International Drive to Long Point Road in Cape Canaveral.
Planned improvements for this intersection realignment and sidewalk project call for realigning International Drive to connect to S.R. A1A at North Atlantic Avenue, creating a traditional intersection with a traffic signal.
Project status: Under design. Right of way funded in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Construction is fully funded in fiscal year 2027 for $8.8 million.
State Road 501/Clearlake Road (Michigan Avenue to Industry Road)
This project calls for widening State Road 501 (Clearlake Road) from three lanes to four lanes from south of Michigan Avenue to north of Otterbein Avenue, and from two lanes to four lanes from north of Otterbein Avenue to west of Industry Road.
The proposed typical section will be a four-lane divided roadway with curb and gutter, with accommodation for bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides.
Project status: Design update underway.
Unfunded phase: Right of way and construction.
State Road 524 (South Friday Road to Industry Road)
The purpose of this study is to evaluate alternatives to improve roadway capacity, safety and enhance multimodal opportunities to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Project status: Project development and environment study underway for this widening project. Design funded in fiscal year 2025.
Unfunded phase: Right of way and construction.
DEVELOPING A ROAD PROJECT
These are the five major steps in the transportation development process, according to the Florida Department of Transportation:
Long-range planning: The FDOT and local governments conduct long-range transportation planning on an ongoing basis to identify and prioritize individual projects.
Project development and environment study, also known as PD&E: During this step, design options and their social and environmental effects are examined.
Design: During design, detailed construction plans are prepared.
Right-of-way acquisition: This phase entails acquisition of necessary rights of way, based on the construction plans.
Construction: The roadway is built during this phase.
Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard's top road construction priorities, when they'll be finished
