Public Comment on Beach Changes Sought

10/26/2009 9:08:59 AM

Contact: Paul Bertels (727) 562-4750

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 23, 2009

Contact: Paul Bertels

(727) 562-4750

Public Comment on Beach Changes Sought

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Residents and business persons are invited to come to the Clearwater Beach Library & Recreation Center, 69 Bay Esplanade, to learn about plans to turn two south beach streets into one-way roads. The Wednesday, Nov. 4, meeting allows residents and business persons to stop by anytime between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. and talk to city staff about the project.

Engineers are proposing to make Coronado Drive for southbound traffic only and Hamden Drive for northbound traffic only. At the south end of Coronado Drive, the easternmost lane would become a turnaround lane to keep traffic flowing. South Gulfview Boulevard would continue as a two-way street. The goal of making the streets one-way is to move traffic more efficiently and to deal with traffic leaving the new parking garages. When the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa opens in late December, 400 public parking spaces will become available. Another proposed garage, south of the resort, will have 300 spaces for the public and should open sometime in the next 18 months.

If the plan is adopted, some of the heavy traffic on Coronado Drive would move to the less frequented Hamden Drive. The costs to make the changes would be relatively minimal and could be done in one night if approved by the City Council. If you have questions, please call (727) 562-4750.