Parrish is booming. Planned changes to State Road 62 is the latest growing pain
A plan to realign State Road 62 to intersect with Erie Road at U.S. 301 is raising concerns among Parrish residents.
“I am all for fixing the road but putting a raised median in U.S. 301 is going to create more problems,” said Denise Nelson, one of the owners of Johnny’s Tires, 12347 U.S. 301.
Traffic approaching U.S. 301 from State Road 62 now enters the intersection between Johnny’s Tires on the north and Jo Jo’s Tastes of Chicago on the south. Under the proposed realignment, that traffic would be directed about one-tenth of a mile south on a planned stretch of road south of Jo Jo’s and align with Erie Road on the west side of U.S. 301.
Such an alignment with a proposed median would force large trucks to go further south and make a U-turn on U.S. 301 to reach destinations such as the Parrish General Store or P.J.’s Sandwich Shop, Parrish residents say.
Nelson does not dispute that something needs to be done to make it safer for traffic, particularly large trucks, to enter and leave State Road 62.
“I am also for more lights if it will slow down traffic going through here at 70 mph,” she said. “There are so many accidents at this corner. The road (S.R. 62) is too narrow.”
Teresa Giles, owner of P.J.’s, welcomes improvements to Parrish roads, as long as a median isn’t built that would stop delivery trucks from being able to get to her business.
“They need to realign S.R. 62 with Erie Road. There are to many accidents in that area,” Giles said.
The issue came before the Parrish Civic Association during a directors meeting this week.
Gretchen Fowler, president of the association, said the Florida Department of Transportation is promising to address concerns.
“But until I see a new design, I’m not believing it,” Fowler said.
Moreover, neither Manatee County nor FDOT have made plans to widen Erie Road, which is a two-lane road without sidewalks where children walk to school, she said.
Realigning the roads will increase traffic on Erie Road which already has a safety issue, Fowler said. “That’s where they need to focus and they are ignoring it.”
Fowler is also concerned about Moccasin Wallow Road, where massive development is planned while the road is still two lanes. The road issues, and lack of sanitary sewer in the northern part of the village of Parrish, are symptoms of growing pains in a community where tens of thousands of new homes are planned.
FDOT, in partnership with Manatee County, this week announced a public hearing for the State Road 62 at U.S. 301 Realignment Project.
The new intersection would include one-quarter mile of paving to the east of U.S. 301 on State Road 62.
Public meeting on road realignment project
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is holding a public hearing Tuesday, June 22, at the First Baptist Church of Parrish, 12125 71st St. E., Parrish, and not at the local Rocky Bluff Branch library. The library will only house a copy of the project documents (through July 7) and not the actual hearing event.
The purpose of this project is to evaluate realignment of State Road 62 at U.S. 301 in order to improve safety and mobility at the intersection. The public hearing is being held to present information about the preferred alternative and engineering and environmental analysis completed to date.
The hearing provides the opportunity for the public to offer feedback on the preferred alternative for the official hearing record, according to an DFOT press release.
FDOT has two ways to participate in the public hearing: online through the project website https://swflroads.com/sr62/at301/ or by attending the public hearing event (either virtually or in person).
All hearing materials, including the project video, are available online. A copy of these materials will also be displayed at the in-person location. All participation options allow viewing of the materials, and the ability to ask questions, and submit comments.
For more information on all participation options for this hearing, visit the project website or contact the project representative, Patrick Bateman at 863-519-2792 or at patrick.bateman@dot.state.fl.us.
Project documents will be available for public viewing on the project website and also will be available until July 7, at FDOT District One Manatee Operations Center, 14000 East State Road 64, Bradenton.
FDOT is sending notices to all property owners, businesses, interested persons and organizations to provide the opportunity to participate in this hearing.
This story was originally published June 17, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
