Road closure barricaded at roundabout exit

[Altavia]

What could possibly go wrong here?

Road Closed barricade is across the right lane at the roundabout exit forcing right lane traffic to cross the left lane.

[Maker]

No warning at all that the lane is closed ahead? Is it visible from far enough away to safely react?

[VApeople]

What could possibly go wrong here?

Nothing could possibly go wrong as long as a driver is half-way awake and is driving within the posted speed limit of 20 mph.

[Altavia]

No warning at all that the lane is closed ahead? Is it visible from far enough away to safely react?

No warning.

No flashing lights.

Unexpected surprise first time through.

Crazy part is the road ahead is not closed, all forms of traffic continue to use it...

[Two Bills]

Probably would have been better if both lanes had been closed, then drivers like the pick-up driver would automatically have carried on round, instead of ignoring sign, or didn't see 'road closed' and assumed 'lane closed.
Looks just a night closure, so most of those who haven't a clue in roundabouts, should be safely tucked up in bed.
But.
This is The Villages!

[Altavia]

Probably would have been better if both lanes had been closed, then drivers like the pick-up driver would automatically have carried on round, instead of ignoring sign, or didn't see 'road closed' and assumed 'lane closed.
Looks just a night closure, so most of those who haven't a clue in roundabouts, should be safely tucked up in bed.
But.
This is The Villages!

The sign is in place during the day.

[Two Bills]

The sign is in place during the day.

:pray:

[Bilyclub]

The one lane is open for local traffic, like the sign says. Pretty standard stuff for a closed road.

[Aacosner]

Crazy part is the road ahead is not closed, all forms of traffic continue to use it...

Marsh Bend Trail is closed 2.5 miles past this to make the connection to the new Central Parkway. The only traffic proceeding past this would be local and construction traffic.

[kansasr]

What could possibly go wrong here?

Road Closed barricade is across the right lane at the roundabout exit forcing right lane traffic to cross the left lane.

This has to be the most dangerous thing I've seen in a while here. First, it is totally unnecessary, as there is a barrier and a "local traffic only" sign at the next intersection at Reagan Rd.

Second, there should be a lane closed ahead warning before you enter this roundabout. There is no visibility entering the roundabout that the right lane is closed ahead and you suddenly have two lanes of traffic vying for the left lane.

There will be fender benders here, if not already.

[Altavia]

Marsh Bend Trail is closed 2.5 miles past this to make the connection to the new Central Parkway. The only traffic proceeding past this would be local and construction traffic.

You would think, the only "local" non-constrution traffic would be to the prison.

But apparently "local traffic" is anyplace in Florida.

Along with automobile traffic, Semi's of all types, fuel trucks, Amazon, Fedex, UPS, City Furniture, Publix, Airport Shuttles, even motor cycle groups, etc. continue to fly through.

[Altavia]

This has to be the most dangerous thing I've seen in a while here. First, it is totally unnecessary, as there is a barrier and a "local traffic only" sign at the next intersection at Reagan Rd.

Second, there should be a lane closed ahead warning before you enter this roundabout. There is no visibility entering the roundabout that the right lane is closed ahead and you suddenly have two lanes of traffic vying for the left lane.

There will be fender benders here, if not already.

Agree. Especially crazy when there is no enforcement of "local." Traffic is no different than before the"closure."

Caught me by surprise when being almost taken out by a landscape truck & trailer as he dove in front of me, because the right lane was blocked, into the left lane at exit.

[NotGolfer]

Call your county road department and maybe the sheriff's office too and ask there and express your concerns.

[westernrider75]

Marsh Bend Trail is closed 2.5 miles past this to make the connection to the new Central Parkway. The only traffic proceeding past this would be local and construction traffic.

I am curious though because there are cars going in both directions all day. I regularly use that road to 470 and have been using Meggison instead but I’m wondering if I need to after seeing cars using Marsh Bend.

[srswans]

What could possibly go wrong here?

Road Closed barricade is across the right lane at the roundabout exit forcing right lane traffic to cross the left lane.

Annotated too - great job showing the problem.

(Hopefully the low speed in roundabouts avoid any serious accidents.)

[Bilyclub]

Marsh Bend Trail is closed 2.5 miles past this to make the connection to the new Central Parkway. The only traffic proceeding past this would be local and construction traffic.

I am curious though because there are cars going in both directions all day. I regularly use that road to 470 and have been using Meggison instead but I’m wondering if I need to after seeing cars using Marsh Bend.

Central Parkway is going to be the new 470 so you cannot use Marsh Bend to connect.

[LucyP]

Landscapers workers! For there protection not to get hit by those fast moving 🚘 and at times use to put plants down before planting. Get use to it. Yes could use workers ahead sign!

[DonH57]

Nothing could possibly go wrong as long as a driver is half-way awake and is driving within the posted speed limit of 20 mph.

Yeah. Like that's gonna happen. Common sense driving went out the window a long time ago here!

[richdell]

Marsh Bend Trail is closed 2.5 miles past this to make the connection to the new Central Parkway. The only traffic proceeding past this would be local and construction traffic.

Local traffic includes traffic going in and out of Monarch Grove.

[ScottGo]

Two sheriff's and citizans patrol at Marsh Bend and 301 intersection yesterday 4-26, have not gone that way today.

[jimkerr]

What could possibly go wrong here?

Road Closed barricade is across the right lane at the roundabout exit forcing right lane traffic to cross the left lane.

They’ve been telling us for weeks that this is closing. Pay attention and everything will be ok.

[jimkerr]

Two sheriff's and citizans patrol at Marsh Bend and 301 intersection yesterday 4-26, have not gone that way today.

They were there today too.

[jimkerr]

Central Parkway is going to be the new 470 so you cannot use Marsh Bend to connect.

Yes you can. I did it today. I was on the new central parkway, took it to 470 then to 501 which comes out on marsh bend.

[Altavia]

Call your county road department and maybe the sheriff's office too and ask there and express your concerns.

You're probably right.

One would hope that after hundreds of law enforcement, fire/first responders, Villages Community patrols, Sumpter and Wildwood officials, Villages construction Management and others have driven through the areas this week, at least one would have pointed out the risk and followed up to mitigate...

[Altavia]

They’ve been telling us for weeks that this is closing. Pay attention and everything will be ok.

Well, it's not closed...

[Altavia]

Two sheriff's and citizans patrol at Marsh Bend and 301 intersection yesterday 4-26, have not gone that way today.

Nice but no where near where the road is supposedly closed...

[Altavia]

Yes you can. I did it today. I was on the new central parkway, took it to 470 then to 501 which comes out on marsh bend.

Bingo!

[kansasr]

They’ve been telling us for weeks that this is closing. Pay attention and everything will be ok.

If you're driven through this roundabout, you'll realize it's an accident waiting to happen.

[Bill14564]

The signage on the roundabout looks reasonable and could be the best the configuration allows.

- They want to mark the road closed to all but local traffic
- The best place to do that is an intersection
- For this road, the intersection is the roundabout
- Signs had to be put somewhere; across one lane makes sense
- Hard to say whether it should be the right lane or left lane but the right lane was probably easier logistically


Flashing lights? Where would they go that wouldn't confuse drivers? Only one lane of one exit is blocked. Not all drivers will be taking Marsh Bend, not all drivers will be in the outside lane. Flashing lights before the roundabout would require some explanation for why they are there. The signage with the explanation would be more distracting and confusing than the barricade that exists.

Accident waiting to happen? Could be but it will be hard to know if the accident was caused by the barricade or if it was just a Villager who could not navigate a roundabout. With all the traffic down Marsh Bend that some are reporting, how many accidents have there been since the barricade went up?

[Altavia]

///

[Worldseries27]

agree. Especially crazy when there is no enforcement of "local." traffic is no different than before the"closure."

caught me by surprise when being almost taken out by a landscape truck & trailer as he dove in front of me, because the right lane was blocked, into the left lane at exit.
i was right behind you

[fishon]

The sign at the roundabout read Road Closed, No Through Traffic. I can’t figure it out. I’m still going around and around. It’s tragic.

[Maker]

how many accidents have there been since the barricade went up?

Why is it that when there is a situation that has a high potential for causing a serious injury, and there are easy ways to make it safer, some people prefer to wait until someone gets hurt before they do anything about it?

It like handing a child a loaded gun and waiting until they pull the trigger before taking it away from them.

[Bill14564]

Why is it that when there is a situation that has a high potential for causing a serious injury, and there are easy ways to make it safer, some people prefer to wait until someone gets hurt before they do anything about it?

It like handing a child a loaded gun and waiting until they pull the trigger before taking it away from them.

If something has a high potential for causing harm then given a number of instances, harm would result. If this circle has a high potential to cause accidents then since there is a large amount of traffic through it there must have been some accidents by now. If not, then maybe the potential is not that high.

What easy way is there to make this roundabout safer while still indicating that Marsh Bend is open to local traffic only?

[Altavia]

.

What easy way is there to make this roundabout safer while still indicating that Marsh Bend is open to local traffic only?

There already is a second warning "barrier" 100yds down the road after 501 becomes a single lane.

Given the "barrier" is redundant and no more than a warning sign, just remove it. Which will happen shortly anyway.

The point is there is no evidence of anyone responsible (Sumter County) thinking through placing a barrier blocking one lane of a two lane road at the exit of a roundabout.

[72eagleman]

It should not be a problem if driving the speed limit. at 20 MPH, it takes 19 feet to stop a car, once the break are applied.

[Altavia]

Why is it that when there is a situation that has a high potential for causing a serious injury, and there are easy ways to make it safer, some people prefer to wait until someone gets hurt before they do anything about it?

It like handing a child a loaded gun and waiting until they pull the trigger before taking it away from them.

I'm fairly confident those posters are fully qualified for a senior management position with the Roads/Highway Department

:1rotfl::1rotfl: :1rotfl::1rotfl:

[jimkerr]

I'm fairly confident those posters are fully qualified for a senior management position with the Roads/Highway Department

:1rotfl::1rotfl: :1rotfl::1rotfl:

Right?!!! On-line they are road and traffic engineers. In real life they are behing the keyboard drinking Bud Light! :pepper2::pepper2:

[npwalters]

by coincidence I stumbled up on this today. I was just out sightseeing in the area.

I does seem like they should post a caution sign a little further up the road.

[Marathon Man]

There already is a second warning "barrier" 100yds down the road after 501 becomes a single lane.

Given the "barrier" is redundant and no more than a warning sign, just remove it. Which will happen shortly anyway.

The point is there is no evidence of anyone responsible (Sumter County) thinking through placing a barrier blocking one lane of a two lane road at the exit of a roundabout.

What would the evidence look like?

[Maker]

What easy way is there to make this roundabout safer while still indicating that Marsh Bend is open to local traffic only?

Any fool can see this is dangerous. Normal traffic flow has 2 lanes going south through the roundabout, with both lanes normally exiting together southbound. Now the right lane closure causes cars to swerve into the left lane with very minimal warning or time to react. Go there and look (I did).

Perhaps add a "Right Lane Closed Ahead" sign just before the roundabout would give some advanced warning of this problem.

[Altavia]

Any fool can see this is dangerous. Normal traffic flow has 2 lanes going south through the roundabout, with both lanes normally exiting together southbound. Now the right lane closure causes cars to swerve into the left lane with very minimal warning or time to react. Go there and look (I did).

Perhaps add a "Right Lane Closed Ahead" sign just before the roundabout would give some advanced warning of this problem.


There is a second barrier 1/4 mi away at Regan Rd. So the first really is not necessary.

They could move the first barrier a couple of hundred yards further south on a the straight segment and add a line of construction barrels before to help a safe merge into the left lane prior to the second barrier at Reagan Rd.

[Altavia]

Any fool can see this is dangerous. Normal traffic flow has 2 lanes going south through the roundabout, with both lanes normally exiting together southbound. Now the right lane closure causes cars to swerve into the left lane with very minimal warning or time to react. Go there and look (I did).

Perhaps add a "Right Lane Closed Ahead" sign just before the roundabout would give some advanced warning of this problem.

A large, lighted warning sign as you described has now been put in place to warn drivers prior to entering the roundabout.