Weekly road project update, Dec. 5

The newest traffic hotspots for commuters are now on St. Lucie West Boulevard between the Florida Turnpike and Cashmere Boulevard, and on Prima Vista Boulevard between the St. Lucie River and U.S. Highway 1.

St. Lucie West Boulevard
The newest traffic hotspot for commuters is on St. Lucie West Boulevard in front of the Home Depot, between the Florida Turnpike and Cashmere Boulevard. Work is being done to lengthen the turning lanes onto Cashmere to prepare for the construction of a Lowe’s home center on the north side, between Cashmere and the Turnpike. The good news is Lowe’s is paying for the improvements, and the bad news is commuters can expect delays. The road will be narrowed to one lane intermittently. Work will be complete by Feb. 1.

Prima Vista
St.Lucie County crews are redesigning Prima Vista Boulevard from U.S. Highway 1 to Rio Mar Drive. Traffic is narrowed to one lane from the St. Lucie River bridge to U.S. Highway 1 and will remain that way until mid December. Rio Mar is closed to through-traffic from Prima Vista to Beach Avenue, but Lomas Street is open again. The work will result in improved drainage and turning. County traffic engineers can be reached at (772) 462-1707.

Westmoreland Boulevard
Work continues on Westmoreland Boulevard from Port St. Lucie Boulevard south to Cambridge to widen the road to four lanes. Sidewalks have been added to both sides of the street and the entrance to the city’s future botanical garden is under construction. Entrance to and exit from the Bridge Plaza at Port St. Lucie Boulevard can still be made from Westmoreland by following the detour through the barricades. The road will re-open this month with a landscaped median, improved street lighting and a new entrance on the east side of Bridge Plaza.

Crosstown Parkway
The Crosstown Parkway Bridge over the Florida Turnpike is open to traffic in both directions. There still is work going on at Bayshore Boulevard and at Cashmere, so traffic coming off the bridge will have to turn left or right. The Crosstown Parkway’s connection to Cameo is now fully open. Work also is well under way on the segment from Bayshore to Manth Lane and on the segment from Cashmere to I-95, and work has begun on the Crosstown interchange at I-95.

Darwin Boulevardclosure
Darwin Boulevardis closed between Tamworth and Bill Traitel Avenue, outside Windmill Point Elementary and Whispering Pines Park. Special access roads have been installed to allow traffic in and out of the school and the park, and drivers should pay attention to all detour signs in the area. The work is being done to add a sidewalk, to improve drainage and to improve turning in the intersections. It will be going on until the middle of January, so drivers should consider an alternate route if possible. For more information, call the Utility Systems Department at 873-6400.

Becker Road/ I-95 interchange
Construction of a new interchange at I-95 and Becker Road has begun. Becker Road is now closed west of Hallmark Street, and Rosser Blvd is closed south of Edinburgh Drive. When complete in late 2009, the interchange will shorten travel times to the south and open the southwest portion of the city to commercial development. Construction to widen Becker to four lanes from I-95 to the Florida Turnpike will begin in the spring.

Airoso Boulevardclosure
Airoso Boulevardis now open in both directions for the full length of the road.

For more information, contact:
Ed Cunningham
Interim Communications Director
City of Port St. Lucie
(772) 871-5219