Thompson Nursery Road Residents Raise Concerns about Traffic and Safety with Planned Renovations
by James Coulter
Planned renovations to Thompson Nursery Road have many residents raising concerns about potential traffic issues and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
At their meeting on Mon. Mar. 10, Winter Haven city commissioners were given a presentation by Jay Jarvis, Director of Polk County Roads & Drainage Division, on the Thompson Nursery Road Project.
The project is divided into two phases. Phase one consists of four segments of road between Highway 17 and Eagle Lake and West Lake Ruby Road. The second phase consists of roadway from West Lake Ruby Road.
Currently, the project is focused on segment one of phase one, which consists of the roadway from Highway 17 to Rifle Range Road and Snively Avenue.
Jarvis explained that the alignment had been adopted back in mid-2007 to 2008 by the Board of County Commissioners of Polk County. Since then, the project has been “pulled off the shelf” and updated as funding has become available.
“Our intent is that this [segment one of phase one] will go out to bid sometime this summer and start construction by sometime of this fall of this year,” he explained. “We expect to go out to bid this summer and move into construction in the fall with a two-year construction timeframe, with 2027 or 2028.”
As for segment two of phase one, he expects the proposed alignment to be presented to the board sometime in April, preferably the second meeting that month, with the expectation of it being approved so they can move forward with design, permitting, and right-of-way acquisition.
“We have already done preliminary acquisition along this corridor,” Jarvis said. “We have already acquired some properties along this corridor already. Then the intent will be three to four years as we move through this. Our intent will be to build segments two to four, and the funding will be available.”
However, many residents, especially those who are members of a local homeowners association (HOA), have raised concerns about potential safety and traffic issues these planned renovations could create.
Linda Pfeiff is the Vice President of the Traditions HOA and a member of a regional community council representing 17 communities along Thompson Nursery Road, which are home to more than 20,000 people.
She took note of one design plan that proposed a bike lane next to vehicular traffic. She considered such a design proposal problematic, as many vehicles do not obey the 45 MPH speed limit. Many dump trucks and larger vehicles even go as fast as 60 to 65 MPH.
Moreover, she claims safety issues will only be complicated with a proposed development, which will include a Publix Supermarket along with other smaller adjoining stores.
“Please reconsider,” she told the commission. “Stay on top of the county. Let us do the right thing for everybody in our community and the residents of Winter Haven.”
James Colett, President of the Traditions HOA, added to her remarks about the proposed Publix. He claimed the development will compound safety issues for pedestrians crossing the street, as the two-lane road with turns will be upsized to four lanes with turns.
“Not to be dramatic, but we have a concern that someone may be killed at the intersection,” he said.
“We do not have a traffic light [there],” he added. “So how do we safely get residents back and forth across Thompson Nursery?… I would ask that you just please try to support us and either get a light or something there that can protect residents as we go back and forth.”
