published: Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Commission concerned about Parkway corner at College Drive

By ED BALDRIDGE

ed.baldridge@newssun.com

AVON PARK -- The Highlands County Board of County Commission and South Florida Community College disagree about how the Phase III Sebring Parkway intersection at Memorial Drive should look, according to County Engineer Ramon Gavarrete.

Commissioners wanted the original option of a simple cross intersection with College Drive.

SFCC asked for a complicated Y-intersection that routes traffic north along Memorial into Avon Park that would require more engineering and land acquisition, explained Gavarrete.

The $6.05 million Phase III of the Parkway picks up from Phase I at the 90-degree turn, allows traffic to continue straight and curves back to the north as a two-lane road connecting with Memorial Drive at College Drive approximately 4.1 miles later.

County staff said that $3 million of the funding would come from a Florida Department of Transportation County Initiative Grant and $3.5 million of the funds come from the local option gas tax.

Gavarrete said SFCC was concerned about the amount of traffic that would be directed onto College Drive to U.S. 27 if the original intersection was used.

Commissioner Ron Handley stopped the presentation of how Phase III would be built at the intersection discussion and asked how much more the SFCC preference would cost.

"Yes there is additional cost," Gavarrete said.

"With the original configuration, we have already purchased the right of way. With Option 2, we have to purchase additional right of way," Gavarrete said.

The estimated additional cost is $385,000, according to Gavarrete.

"Was the college helping with the costs for the changes?" Commissioner Don Elwell asked.

"No, they are not helping funding-wise," Gavarrete said.

Gavarrete did add that SFCC was granting some land for the additional right of way needed.

"So we are going to spend 385,000 more dollars and it is going to be more cumbersome. That makes absolutely no sense to me," Handley said.

Elwell agreed with Handley's assessment.

According to Gavarrete, the previous commission asked county staff to offer options to SFCC and "this is the option that the SFCC Board of Trustees selected," he explained.

Elwell asked staff to return to the college and re-open discussions with the trustees.

"We need to address traffic flow from a professional standpoint, not just 'what do you guys think,'" directed Commissioner Barbara Stewart.

"The original design is preferred," said Board Chairman Jack Richie, "both for cost and ease of traffic."

The commissioners asked Gavarrete to return at the end of February or the first meeting in March with more information.