Request for golf cart crossing on Warm Springs bridge over turnpike
 

This is a request to the developer to add an additional crossing for golf carts across the turnpike on the Warm Springs bridge. It has been shown that the north span on the bridge could easily accommodate cart traffic. In fact, compared to the Lake Sumter bridge on Morse it would be wider and much shorter. We appreciate there will be bridges at the north and south end of the Villages on this side of the turnpike but one in the middle would make sense.

The Water Lily bridge will be a great addition but for the Villages of Fenney, DeSoto, McClure, Linden and Monarch Grove a Warm Springs bridge access would provide a speedier route to the new developments such as the championship golf course in Bradford and other commercial developments including faster access to the Chitty Chatty bridge to Lake Deaton Plaza and the Rohan rec center.

Another concern is regarding the Hogeye Trail. The east side of the trail is along the turnpike and is a multi-modal surface with walkers, bicyclists, and golf carts. When the Water Lily bridge opens the amount of golf cart traffic on this portion of the Hogeye trail will increase exponentially. From a safety standpoint it would seem to make sense to decrease golf cart traffic there if possible, for the safety of walkers and those on a bicycle.

We residents south (west) of the turnpike look forward to the future golf cart access to the rest of the Villages. The addition of access across the Warm Springs bridge would be greatly appreciated.

I doubt The Villages organization has much to say in this. That is a county road and will require county approval and there might even be some state requirements that have to be met. Even if you get across the turnpike where are you going to go? The developer isn't going to put a golf cart path on undeveloped land where there will be ongoing construction. Golf carts would be in danger from construction vehicles. Not worth the risk.

Isn't Warm Springs Rd speed limit 45? We have golf cart lanes on St. Charles, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Moyer, all those roads speed limit is 35. Even LSV (street legal carts) can only go on 35 mph roads, that's why Morse and Buena Vista are limited to 35. For that to work, they would need to build a barrier wall between the car lane and the golf cart lane.

Didn't Don Wiley speculate on that in an earler video?

I'm thinking that if you really want to make a request to the developer (and be heard)...then maybe this isn't the best forum to do it in...there is no evidence that the developer reads the posts in this forum or pays a lot of attention to them (if I were the developer I certainly wouldn't)

so, spend a few bucks and send him a FedEx with your specific thoughts on exactly what you'd like to see happen.

It's always more effective to go direct.....just saying

What’s a Don Wiley?

The speed limit on St. Charles, Moyer, Hillsborough, Pinellas, O’Dell, and most other streets with a marked golf cart lane is 30 mph, not 35.

Goldwingnut

Don’t be that naive. What the Villages want, the villages usually have a way of getting. The cart path over the bridge would help many residents.

When someone designs, gets approval and builds a bridge with one side considerably wider then the other. You have to wonder if that was the original thought at one time. Maybe it was a backup plan if they couldn't the the separate Water Lilly bridge approved. In any case, I totally agree, it would make life a lot easier to get to Lake Deaton and the other new areas. Also agree, when the water Lilly bridge opens, I think the MMP that parallels the turnpike will be like an Atlanta rush hour. (well, maybe no that bad)

God Luck!!! Calls for an additional golf cart crossing over 27/441 have been being made for decades. The developers answer is "NO".

I have to drive my golf cart over two miles to get to a business that is a quarter mile from my house.

When we had flooding from the hurricane a few years ago, we couldn't get across. After a few days an officer was stationed where Morse comes across and we were allowed to cross there.

Residents of Stonecrest are allowed to cross 27/441 at the lights near their community. I don't why we can't do that here.

But as far as getting an additional bridge, I don't of many instances where the developer listesn to suggestions or requests from the residents.

I agree, but what would be the point of a cart lane crossing the bridge if there aren’t multi-modal paths on either side to take you somewhere?

All roads with golf cart lanes are only 30 MPH. Please keep that in mind..
Safety

This was Goldwingnut's idea and he did all the work measuring out why it would work. Much like the Lake Sumter bridge on Morse there would be a barrier between cars and carts and could be wider than that cart path. At no time would you be on an unprotected cart path with cars like on Morse north of 466.

For those that haven't driven down Warm Springs road in a while the cart path we are talking about would join up with the new tunnel under Warm Springs road. You would go left to go to Brownwood and right to Bradford and the new golf course.

good luck