‘Proven to save lives.’ FDOT begins Bradenton crosswalk upgrades on busy road
Safety improvements are being installed along a portion of U.S. 41, and construction could cause temporary lane closures.
The Florida Department of Transportation recently began a $4.6 million project along 1.27 miles of U.S. 41 from 63rd Avenue West to 53rd Avenue West that aims to improve pedestrian safety and roadway aesthetics. The agency installed similar upgrades along Cortez Road in 2022.
“Improvements will include seven mid-block crosswalks with pedestrian beacons, signing and pavement markings, raised medians, curb and gutter, new ramps, sidewalk, signalization, lighting, intelligent transportation systems (ITS) and milling and resurfacing where the new pavement markings will be installed,” the project website states.
In 2025, there were 171 pedestrian crashes in Manatee County, 18 fatalities and 123 injuries from pedestrian crashes, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data shows. There have been 83 pedestrian crashes and six fatalities so far in 2026.
“The primary goal of this project is (to) reduce conflict points for drivers and create a safer environment for both motorists and pedestrians,” an FDOT spokesperson told the Bradenton Herald.
Pedestrian hybrid beacons flash yellow to alert drivers when pedestrians are about to cross, then become a solid red to stop drivers and allow for safer crossings.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the beacons lead to a 55% reduction in pedestrian crashes and 15% reduction in serious or fatal crashes.
Previous upgrades seeing early, positive results
In 2022, FDOT installed similar pedestrian beacons and safety measures on Cortez Road West between 14th Street West and 26th Street West. The project included median modifications, mid-block pedestrian crossings and roadway resurfacing.
FDOT uses three years of post-construction data to evaluate efficacy of improvements, but an FDOT spokesperson shared “highly encouraging” early results of the Cortez Road improvements.
“Early, unvetted crash data indicates a 72% reduction in fatal and serious injury crashes in this area since the changes were implemented on May 13, 2022,” the email states.
The spokesperson also said a similar raised median project in the U.S. 41 corridor between 63rd Avenue West and 53rd Avenue West resulted in a 56% reduction in fatal and serious crashes.
Construction on the safety improvements between 63rd Avenue West and 53rd Avenue West will last through late 2026.
Motorists should expect some lane closures within the project limits during constructions. Pedestrians also may need to follow detoured routes and use caution around the project.
“Infrastructure upgrades like these are proven to save lives, and we appreciate the community’s patience as our crews work efficiently to complete these vital safety improvements,” the FDOT spokesperson said.
