Palm Coast, FL – APRIL 1, 2019 – The main entrance to Island Walk, Palm Coast’s popular shopping and dining venue, has drawn criticism since the center was redeveloped in 2016.
Before the renovation, Island Walk’s entrances to a “T” intersection ended with a stop sign. The interior access road had the right of way. The renovated traffic pattern gives the right of way to arriving traffic rather than to the interior access road. Yet, three years later, 25% of arriving drivers still stop where the stop signs no longer exist. The result has been a mounting frustration of delays for arriving drivers, confusion among those now sitting at stop signs on the interior access road, and multiple fender-benders.
Complicating the main entrance problems are the proximity of the Publix and Starbucks parking entrances. Traffic engineers determined that the ideal solution is a rotary, but engineers had to overcome many design hurdles. Not the least of these was the fact that rotaries require more land area than do “T” intersections. How to create a rotary without impacting access to Publix and Starbucks.
The engineers’ solution is ingenious. The Starbucks drive-thru lane will be incorporated into the new rotary. This not only solves the space problem but also assures future complaints regarding the center’s traffic pattern will not be “without grounds.”
CONCEPT ROTARY PLAN
The project has been approved by the Island Walk owner. Work will begin in July and is expected to last for 3 to 4 years. During construction, all shopping center traffic will be diverted to the center’s three other entrances.
To my readers: Fake news; Happy April Fools Day
Toby Tobin: REALTOR®, SRES®
I am a Florida licensed REALTOR®, SRES®, affiliated with Grand Living Realty in Palm Coast, Fla. As a real estate consultant and journalist, I have years of experience and a treasure trove of relevant analytics. I help developers, builders, homebuyers, and sellers achieve improved outcomes with reduced stress, knowing that their real estate decisions are sound and fact-based.
Call me at (386) 931-7124 or email me at Toby@GoToby.com.
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