PD&E ADVANCE NOTIFICATION
NEED FOR PROJECT: The need for capacity improvements to the section of Midway Road between 25th Street and U.S. Highway has been identified in order to accommodate future forecasted traffic demand along the corridor. Transportation planning studies have previously identified that the existing predominantly two-lane-undivided cross-section of the roadway will be insufficient to accommodate future travel demand through the corridor. In fact, an analysis of existing conditions already indicates that during some peak season/peak hour periods, the roadway is already experiencing poor levels of service. Since this section of Midway Road is the primary east-west corridor in between Ft. Pierce and Port St. Lucie that connects Interstate I-95 directly to U.S. Highway 1, the roadway serves a significant regional function in terms of connectivity for a variety of different transportation users. The majority of traffic along the corridor can be attributed to commuter traffic and commercial distribution of goods as very minimal amount of the trips on the roadway have origins or destination within the immediate vicinity of the corridor itself. Although the need for additional capacity is consistent with the needs identified with the St. Lucie County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for year 2025, there are several, historical, cultural and environmental considerations that must carefully be examined as part of the alternatives assessment process.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: This Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study involves evaluating various alternatives that will provide sufficient capacity to accommodate future travel demand through the corridor. Because of a variety of known natural, cultural and environmental resources along the corridor, the concept of “Context Sensitive Design” will play an important role in the evaluation of various improvement alternatives. Preliminarily, the project has been divided into three segments: western terminus at 25th Street to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River (Segment One); North Fork of the St. Lucie River to Oleander Avenue (Segment Two); and Oleander Avenue to U.S. Highway 1 (Segment Three).

St. Lucie County has recently completed the design for the widening of 25th Street north of Midway Road, and FDOT has completed design for improvements to U.S. Highway 1 in the vicinity of the project. Within the project limits, Midway Road exists as a two-lane undivided roadway, with the exception of the extreme western limits of the project where the roadway begins to widen to a four-lane divided section as it approaches 25th Street in the westbound direction. The existing roadway has exclusive turn lanes only at 25th Street, Oleander Avenue and in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 1. The existing bridge across the North Fork of the St. Lucie River can only effectively accommodate two lanes of traffic, and will have to be reconstructed with any widening of the roadway. Access management is an issue throughout the project, but is of most concern on Segment Two, which has many side street and driveway connection. Access to the commercial parcels on the west and east limits of the project, as well as around the Oleander Avenue intersection are also of concern. The total length of the roadway section is approximately 2.0 miles.

The PD&E study will evaluate the following:

• Widening the existing portions of Midway Road along Sections One and Three from two lanes to four-lanes-divided.

• Widening the existing bridge to accommodate four-lanes divided and/or potentially ultimate six-lanes-divided.

• Examining various alignment alternatives as the roadway crosses the North Fork of the St. Lucie River.

• Examining a variety of alternatives to improve capacity on Segment Two. In addition to examining a standard widening from two lanes to four-lanes-divided, other potential, more “context-sensitive” alternatives will be explored.

• Examining other network improvements outside of the corridor that may assist in diverting some of the traffic demand off of the project segment such that more locally desirable alternatives may be feasible.

Other anticipated improvements will include modifications to the existing storm water management system, intersection improvements at key intersections, pedestrian and bicycle accommodations, access management, street lighting and potentially on-street parking along some sections.

It is anticipated that some right-of-way will need to be acquired in the vicinity of the Oleander Avenue intersection, potentially at the approaches to the 25th Street and U.S. Highway 1 intersections, and possibly at the bridge crossing of the river. In general, mainline right-of-way acquisition at locations other than those locations identified above is not anticipated.