Golf Cart Bridge At Colony Blvd

[janmcn]

A golf cart bridge carrying carts up and over Colony Blvd will be built according to The Villages on-line news. Janet Tutt made the announcement this morning. The bridge is expected to cost upwards of $400,000 and will proceed with or without the developer's participation.

[memason]

This is really good news!

[MikeV]

Great news. Let's hope they can build it as fast as they build houses.

[Bogie Shooter]

Here is my prediction. When it is built there will be a thread on TOTV where the whiners and complainers will question; the design, the color, the width, the speed limit, should have been four lanes, had to wait 35 seconds for backed up cart traffic to clear the bridge, etc.

[ureout]

lol....well that will give you something else to be sarcastic about

[jbdlfan]

Don't go out that way more than 4-5 times a year, so doesn't change my travels. But good news for the rest. I'm impressesd with the pricetag. Very reasonable considering. Have to love the cheap labor in Florida!

[Cisco Kid]

I bet the evil one will charge a toll to cross it.

[gomoho]

Good news for sure - could someone enlighten me as to where you expect the start and finish point might be.

[Challenger]

A golf cart bridge carrying carts up and over Colony Blvd will be built according to The Villages on-line news. Janet Tutt made the announcement this morning. The bridge is expected to cost upwards of $400,000 and will proceed with or without the developer's participation.

My bet is total costs including modifications to current cart paths etc will be greater than $400,000.

[DonH57]

Sounds to me to be a safer alternative to somr traffic control set up.

[karostay]

Realy don't see what will a bridge will solve ?
Traffic wil still be entering and exiting Colony

[gomoho]

Not complaining - just asking - I just looked at the diagram on the village news site and can't understand how folks coming on the golf cart side of the path will be able to turn left to enter the shopping center. Actually is doesn't look like you can make a right turn either to get into the shopping center. I am very confused - looks like all the bridge will do is take you over Colony Rd not allow for travel to the shopping center. Can someone straighten me out?

[Peachie]

I bet the evil one will charge a toll to cross it.

Funny! :beer3:

[aln]

Not complaining - just asking - I just looked at the diagram on the village news site and can't understand how folks coming on the golf cart side of the path will be able to turn left to enter the shopping center. Actually is doesn't look like you can make a right turn either to get into the shopping center. I am very confused - looks like all the bridge will do is take you over Colony Rd not allow for travel to the shopping center. Can someone straighten me out?

I'm sure that's not the FINAL look. Maybe they'll put a cloverleaf on the south side of the bridge to enter the shopping center.

I think there's lots of options and the best idea so far.

Congrats to the developer, J Tutt and the whole team.

[jnieman]

A golf cart bridge carrying carts up and over Colony Blvd will be built according to The Villages on-line news. Janet Tutt made the announcement this morning. The bridge is expected to cost upwards of $400,000 and will proceed with or without the developer's participation.

Just came through that way and I feel sorry for the neighborhood watch people who have to direct traffic. I feel that intersection is extremely dangerous and am so glad they are building a bridge. I just hope they get it done soon.

[BogeyBoy]

Plenty of room on the south side, guessing that the "up/down" ramp on the north side will run parallel to Colony with a 90 degree turn at the top.

[buzzy]

Maybe they're keeping the price down by using Community Watch people to build it.

[Villager Dude]

Maybe they're keeping the price down by using Community Watch people to build it.

Would it not make more sense to block the road and make it a dead end coming from Morse where the cart path crosses. This would force cars to go up to 466A to enter the shopping Center.

I appreciate the interest to solve the problem.

[skyguy79]

Not complaining - just asking - I just looked at the diagram on the village news site and can't understand how folks coming on the golf cart side of the path will be able to turn left to enter the shopping center. Actually is doesn't look like you can make a right turn either to get into the shopping center. I am very confused - looks like all the bridge will do is take you over Colony Rd not allow for travel to the shopping center. Can someone straighten me out?What you might have missed is that on the south side of Colony Blvd you can take a right after crossing the bridge southbound. That give you access to the Rec Center as well as takes you back to Colony Blvd where you can take a right and get to the shopping areas. You can do the exact opposite route to return back towards all points north!

Also, I wonder if they considered temporarily closing Colony Blvd and put in another tunnel instead a bridge. I don't know it that would significantly lessen the cost, but in either case either idea would definitely be better than what currently exists.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

Can someone post a "link" to the article that shows the proposed bridge alignment referenced in some of the earlier responses?

[iaudit]

If you look at the diagram, they are closing off the east entrance to Colony and creating a jughandle with grass on both sides. Carts coming off the bridge will take a right and carts from Sanibel will turn left before the bridge to get to Colony Blvd.

http://www.*******************/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/OVerview.jpg

[Finallyfree]

Can someone post a "link" to the article that shows the proposed bridge alignment referenced in some of the earlier responses?

*******************

This will take you to the sorely with the map.

I live south of colony and am grateful they are doing something. No solution is perfect but at least they are trying to fix it. Happy travels.

[travelguy]

Can it be a toll bridge? I do not own a golf cart.

[kfierle]

Here is the picture

[KathieI]

I think there will be many more changes in design AND cost before its all done. Design engineers will need to do studies on required width and height to keep traffic moving rather than create another gridlock on top of the bridge. Seems to me that only one community watch traffic controller kept that area completely free of any gridlock so I'd be surprised they'd go to this extent when there must be a more simple way.

Disclosure, I don't have a golf cart!!

[redwitch]

I just hope they make it wider than the bridge crossing 441 -- with the new doors on carts, there is barely scraping room when the two meet on that bridge.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

Here is the picture

This photo presents a preliminary concept that when engineered will be much more extensive to accommodate a vertical crossing of Colony Boulevard. There is no way that you will be able to construct an approach cart path that will span over Colony Boulevard with 16' to 17' vertical clearance in the horizontal distances represented by the photo's concept.

I would guess that the cart approach would have to begin to rise shortly after leaving the 466A tunnel and then descend in a similar fashion on the golf course side. These rises and descends will require considerable approach distances to the south and north of a Colony Boulevard.

A tunnel beneath Colony Boulevard would appear to be a more practical solution as you would not require as much approach distance to accommodate the vertical clearance dimensions needed for a cart underpass. The proximity of the golf course to the north will present a challenge but not an insurmountable challenge.

[George Bieniaszek]

I still need convincing how a bridge over Colony Blvd will help southbound carts making a left turn to go into the Shopping Plaza. Additionally, how will it help westbound carts trying to make a left turn to get back across 466A.

The simplest solution would be a 4 way stop sign at the cart crossing and Colony location.

[Villager Dude]

I still need convincing how a bridge over Colony Blvd will help southbound carts making a left turn to go into the Shopping Plaza. Additionally, how will it help westbound carts trying to make a left turn to get back across 466A.

The simplest solution would be a 4 way stop sign at the cart crossing and Colony location.

Block off the road at the cart path, Put signs up at Morse and at Citizens Bank at Colony that state " No thru Car Traffic "

Do this now and eliminate the Trafic Guards . See how it works now before going into the costs of a bridge.

As a previous poster mentioned the approach on both sides of the bridge will take up a lot more space than the drawing indicate, I think.

Cheers

[HMLRHT1]

Building a bridge or tunnel is not the answer to this problem. Most traffic is turning right from the north bound lane or left from the south bound lane. The automobile traffic will remain the same. This only allows the few carts that are going from one side to the other to do so easily. Has anyone checked with Community Watch while they are directing traffic if this will resolve the matter?

[golf2140]

Let's see: Two Stop signs $400.00, bridge over trouble waters $400,000. what is the fee for the ones that came up with the recomendation, Don't they get a % of final cost.

[skyguy79]

I still need convincing how a bridge over Colony Blvd will help southbound carts making a left turn to go into the Shopping Plaza. Additionally, how will it help westbound carts trying to make a left turn to get back across 466A.

The simplest solution would be a 4 way stop sign at the cart crossing and Colony location.According to the current drawing, there will be no left turns after a bridge is built for southbound carts. There will be two right hand turns going southbound to get to the plaza; one left turn & one right turn for northbound carts. The green filled areas added to the map help to see this.

[George Bieniaszek]

I agree Golf2140. There are cheaper solutions that would be just as effective in reducing the potential traffic crashes at that location.

I haven't seen any numbers, but IMHO a vast majority of golf carts are those traveling southbound and turning left to head to the shopping plaza or those traveling westbound and turning left on the cart path from Colony to head back towards 466A. A small percentage of carts are traveling straight across Colony (north/south) and a bridge would work for them.

[cquick]

I hope it is wider than the one over 441 at Spanish Springs.

[JRW8219]

I still need convincing how a bridge over Colony Blvd will help southbound carts making a left turn to go into the Shopping Plaza. Additionally, how will it help westbound carts trying to make a left turn to get back across 466A.

The simplest solution would be a 4 way stop sign at the cart crossing and Colony location.

Don't think the problem is taking a left into the plaza. The problem comes at the intersection where the people are now directing traffic. Never had a problem turning into the plaza as that is done with the flow of traffic (i.e. no stop sign).

[hema54]

And who is paying for this bridge? I'm thinking it will come back to residents in some way, then I vote for shutting that section of the road down to car traffic. Before they build an expensive bridge they should try other options.

[bmarlo767]

Good news for sure - could someone enlighten me as to where you expect the start and finish point might be.

Are you going north or south?

[jcgolfs]

It seems to me that blocking Colony to autos past the entrance to the rec center heading East and shutting down Colony completely heading West from shopping center would be the easiest and least expensive way to solve this problem. Last week I traveled South on Morse to 466A, turned left to the shopping center with no problem.

[billethkid]

With all the good suggestions contained in this thread, I encourage each to contact the decision makers of the bridge proposal and appraise them of your thoughts.

This, however and unfortunately usually never happens. Proof? "Representation" in Washington, DC.

btk

[graciegirl]

With all the good suggestions contained in this thread, I encourage each to contact the decision makers of the bridge proposal and appraise them of your thoughts.

This, however and unfortunately usually never happens. Proof? "Representation" in Washington, DC.

btk



Our "deal" is better than that one currently in Washington. Someone who pulls the strings here, knows how to build. SMART is how it is done here in THE VILLAGES.


And to Hema. IF, and I say IF, it fell on all of us financially; do the math. $400,000 divided by 50.000 homes.


I think that is eight bucks.


Not bad for a pretty good fix.

[baustgen]

Not the correct solution. Still have most of the traffic eventually going down Colony Blvd. A cheaper and better solution would be to extend the cart path down to the bank, swing it North around behind the bank, staying on the golf course, re-enter the parking lot at the far North end of Sembler Way. Keep the crossing by the Rec center open. You have now drastically reduced the congestion at the old crossing, reduced the traffic on Colony going to the shopping center, cut down on the volume at Colony and Sembler and done it for a lot less than $400K. The only place that gets a traffic increase is the North end of Sembler that currently has very little. It's my money also.

[JE Greenwood]

Great news. Let's hope they can build it as fast as they build houses.

So true Mike!

[sailor47]

I think it's a reasonable solution.

The problem now is that for south bound carts to enter colony plaza they have to cross two lanes of traffic plus watch for north bound carts before turning east into colony. Same is true for North bound carts they must cross two lanes of traffic and beware of carts turning east in front of them. That is what makes this intersection so dangerous.

I would guess that they will eliminate the three lanes on Colony blvd. and add dedicated cart lanes in addition to auto lanes This is just painting cost (not sure there is room for that). In any event all carts going to Colony Plaza will enter The boulevard from the south and only have to merge into the east bound car traffic and if there is room for a cart lane it will be very easy and safe.

Leaving Colony plaza will be slightly more difficult for carts as they will have to travel west on colony blvd. pass under the new bridge and cross incoming auto traffic. It will be only one incoming lane to deal with and should be safer by far.

I also think the best solution would be to eliminate auto traffic on Colony blvd. but that's probably not going to happen. Both the existing commercial properties and potential new renters would have a big problem with the contorted methods required to enter their businesses and no drive buy access along Colony blvd.

JMO
Tom

[jblum315]

I hope it happens.
I'll believe it when I see it.

[justjim]

A lot of speculation and no factual specifications on the proposed bridge. One can only hope that it would be a bit wider than the one over U.S. 441. hopefully, also wider than the Lake Sumter bridge too. I would think much could be learned from those two bridges.

With all the golf cart traffic in TV, another tunnel under 466A would have been preferred. I wonder if the TV engineers have grossly under estimated in their planning the amount of golf cart traffic in TV.

[wendyquat]

Looks like a good plan to me!

[skip0358]

First off your going to have 2K plus additional homes coming from Fruitland Park, the cost is estimated at 400K without design, architectural and engineer drawings. I'll bet it breaks the 500K mark. Also parking spots will be lost at Colony Rec center and the E/W traffic is still going to be crossing Colony to get back to the S/S of the bridge if they go to the shopping area from what I saw in the drawing. I agree the road closure after Colony Rec Center going East and closed going West after the Bank & Wallgreen parking lot would be the cheapest and easiest.

[graciegirl]

First off your going to have 2K plus additional homes coming from Fruitland Park, the cost is estimated at 400K without design, architectural and engineer drawings. I'll bet it breaks the 500K mark. Also parking spots will be lost at Colony Rec center and the E/W traffic is still going to be crossing Colony to get back to the S/S of the bridge if they go to the shopping area from what I saw in the drawing. I agree the road closure after Colony Rec Center going East and closed going West after the Bank & Wallgreen parking lot would be the cheapest and easiest.




But isn't that road, not The Villages property, rather the property of Sumter County? It appears to me that bridging it is something The Villages can do. Only the county could close it.


Please point out if I am wrong here. AND if it went above half a million, even to a million, and it came back to land on any of us, which is doubtful, it would be shy of twenty bucks a household. We all worry too much. SOMETHING is being done, investigated, planned, discussed, worked on.............. I bet it will turn out great, just like all of the other stuff the Morses have a hand in.

This is a good place to insert
one of Bogie Shooter's famous quotes. "Patience Grasshopper."