ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla — With the commercial growth taking place in the World Golf Village area, shoppers are rejoicing.
At the same time, many of them are wondering how the roads will handle the extra traffic. When Bucee’s and Costco recently built stores at the I-95 exit at International Golf Parkway in St. Johns County, that area saw more traffic.
"We love Costco," Richard Clute said Thursday as he headed into the store.
Now comes more mega retailers to that same spot. Bass Pro Shops is building right next door to Costco, and Home Depot will build right around the corner. It's all in the World Commerce Center.
People who drive the roads to get to these stores describe the traffic here in different ways.
Josh Nalven said, "One word … terrible."
"It seems like it’s easily distributed between Bucee’s and Costco," Clute said.
"Getting into the parking lot is a little crazy. You have to be patient and watch out for people cutting you off," Tammy Mason noted.
Nick Bargo shrugged, "Currently, it’s not that bad."
Traffic sometimes stacks up at the intersection of International Golf Parkway and World Commerce Parkway, which is the road Bucee’s and Costco are on.
When folks hear Bass Pro Shop and Home Depot are coming to that same road, Clute told First Coast News, "With Home Depot, it’ll be more people."
Mason said, "I think the city or county whoever is responsible for the road will have to do something to revamp the roadway to make it better for the traffic. "
First Coast News checked into road plans for the area. When Bucee’s was approved a few years ago, there were improvements made to the intersection and to the area leading up to the interstate. However, the Florida Department of the Transportation said it does not have plans for this intersection because the roads are county roads.
St. Johns County told First Coast News it does not have plans for this International golf Parkway and World Commerce Parkway either.
Some viewers report that a separate but nearby intersection also needs attention: International Golf Parkway and State Road 16. First Coast News has learned $7.5 million – mostly county money – is slated to improved that intersection, starting this year.
As for the traffic by the new mega stores closer to the interstate on International Golf Parkway, Mason said, "I love what we have that but I wish they had built the infrastructure around it prior to brining it in."