Quit approving housing developments else Manatee County traffic congestion worsen

There have been several articles recently complaining about the traffic congestion in Manatee County. Questions are being asked as to how to change traffic patterns, etc.

First off, when we moved to Ellenton 23 years ago we were considered out in the country. Now we are in the city with housing, business and, of course, traffic.

Since that move we have seen thousands of homes being built here in Parrish and surrounding areas north of the river. If Manatee County commissioners would stop giving building permits to developers for these housing developments, then traffic would not grow.

I just saw in the paper where a developer wants to build another complex of another 168 homes on U.S. 301 in Parrish. Do we really need any more housing?

With the Fort Hamer Bridge getting ready to open in 2017, I don't feel that the flow of traffic will decrease very much since the bridge is only going to be one lane each way. Time will tell on that situation.

I hope the Florida Department of Transportation can come up with some workable ideas to help the flow of traffic over the bridges in the near future.

Sue Daidone

Ellenton

This story was originally published April 2, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Quit approving housing developments else Manatee County traffic congestion worsen ."