FLEMING ISLAND – Traffic improvements are coming to Fleming Island.

Clay County Commissioners are always looking for ways to improve public safety in our communities with cost-effective solutions, that stretch budget dollars. A traffic safety study along a congested section of County Road 220 has identified a need, and commissioners have a solution.

Clay County traffic engineers studied the section of CR 220 from Lakeshore Drive West to Old Hard Road, for a five-year period between 2013 and 2017. Recommendations made as a result of the study include installing a traffic signal at the intersection of CR 220 and Lakeshore Drive West, which will allow for vehicle and pedestrian right-of-way, and a more orderly flow of traffic. The study also recommended replacing the left-turn lane from Old Hard Road onto CR 220, with a right turn/U-turn combination. This will reduce angle crashes at that intersection.

The CR 220 Traffic Study was submitted to the Florida Department of Transportation which works with the Federal Highway Administration to obtain funding for roadway improvements through the Highway Safety Improvement Program. A grant obtained by the FDOT through HSIP has been awarded to Clay County for the engineering and construction of the identified safety improvements on CR 220.

Commission Chairman Mike Cella has spoken to residents in the area who are pleased with the traffic improvements coming to Fleming Island. Chairman Cella added that “Road and traffic solutions remain a high priority for the County Commission and we anticipate the relationships with our federal, state and local partners will help meet the needs of our growing community.”

Design and engineering for the new traffic signal will be underway soon. No completion date has been identified for the improvements. Clay County engineers say that these projects will create a necessary break in traffic flow on CR 220, allowing Old Hard Road to function more efficiently and improve safety for motorists and pedestrians. Daniel Eisman, Clay County Deputy Director Engineering and Traffic Operations said, “I believe this project will provide significant safety improvements to our county and greatly improve traffic operations.”