Council planning for beach ramp improvements

Posted On: January 23, 2020

With the state planning major renovations for the gateway to the World’s Most Famous Beach, the county agrees that now is the time to look at improvements of its own to the most heavily travelled beach ramp in Volusia County – International Speedway Boulevard (ISB). Developing a coordinated approach to what will be a major beachside facelift prompted a half-hour discussion at this week’s County Council meeting.

While conceptual modifications haven’t yet been created, the council agreed that it’s time to take some forward steps. The discussion at Tuesday’s County Council meeting covered a lot of territory, including beach ramps, bathrooms, parking, landscaping and signs. While all options are on the table, Jessica Winterwerp, the county’s coastal division director, encouraged council members to think in bold terms as they consider the range of possibilities.

“We’re looking at landscaping, we’re looking at pedestrian improvements, amenities that you would want in a park breezeway situation to the World’s Most Famous Beach,” Winterwerp said during Tuesday’s council discussion. “There are opportunities here along with signs, landscaping, that we can really give it a facelift.”

Tuesday’s discussion was precipitated by the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) plans to widen International Speedway Boulevard from the Halifax River east to S.R. A1A. As currently proposed, the project will include sidewalks, a bicycle lane, a raised median and upgraded traffic signals. The traffic signal at S.R. A1A is proposed to be replaced by FDOT with a roundabout, with the project ending at the county’s beach ramp – where between 125,000-150,000 vehicles a year drive onto the beach. FDOT has scheduled a public hearing for March 31 in Daytona Beach to discuss its plans for International Speedway Boulevard, which is expected to be under construction in 2022. Winterwerp said that if the county is going to improve the beach ramp and related facilities, it makes sense to work with the state so that the timing and look of the projects are synchronized.

“We want to be complementary to the improvements that are happening to International Speedway Boulevard,” said Winterwerp.

The first step is for the county to assign engineers to coordinate with the state and develop ISB beach ramp improvement options for the County Council and public to consider. The council did that on Tuesday when it approved a $169,540 task assignment for its contracted engineering firm, Zev Cohen & Associates, Inc. The county has identified funding in the beach capital fund for improvements to the ramp and adjacent facilities.

Once construction gets under way on ISB, it’s anticipated that drivers will have to use another ramp to get onto the beach. Signs will be erected to help beachgoers get there. The next closest ramp to the south is Silver Beach Avenue, and Winterwerp said the county should expect it to get a lot busier during construction. The county has future plans to upgrade the Silver Beach ramp, too, but the council agreed to speed up those improvements to get the ramp spruced up and ready for all the extra traffic. Another engineering assignment will be brought before the council soon to start looking at ramp improvement options for Silver Beach Avenue. The question for council members going forward will be how much improving they want to do. Council member Billie Wheeler made her preference known Tuesday.

“I definitely want to see the upgrades,” Wheeler said. “I’m for taking them both on and improving everything. The beaches are a highlight, especially the ISB one. That is our entrance.”