ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. — Between all of the artistic sculptures and decorative clock towers, there lies an intersection that has seen its fair share of honks and brake squeaks through the years.
A five-way stop on Seminole Road, right in front of city hall.
"It's very stressful," said Atlantic Beach City Commissioner Mike Waters. "It's anxiety provoking. You have four other streets coming your way. 'Is it my turn? is it that guy's turn?' People get upset."
Waters says the idea to turn the five-way stop into a roundabout has "wheeled" its way through the city for 45 years.
Atlantic Beachians came together for a town hall to bring the idea back "around" again.
One cyclist says he'd be "square" with the change, but he just hopes pedestrians will be considered.
"I think that it would be great, if they do go that route, that they would have a pedestrian crosswalk that would show some lights," said Ryan McCoy, who rides his bike around Atlantic Beach often.
Before anyone goes making the five-way stop a no way stop, Waters says he's heard from a lot of folks who haven't "turned" on board yet.
"We just worry about safety for bikers, walkers and kids going to school at Atlantic Beach Elementary," said Waters. "It's going to be well over a million dollars. We're probably going to have to infringe upon people's yards."
After hearing from his constituents, Waters thinks the roundabout will just have to be something that they "circle" back to some other time.
"It's just one of those things that's ever going to change because of these reasons," said Waters.
For issues like the five-way stressful stop, Atlantic Beach is forming a safety, traffic and parking committee with two community members from each district to brainstorm solutions.
The town hall also addressed a turf war of sorts happening at the tennis courts at Jack Russell Park.
Waters says there's a demand for more pickleball courts in Atlantic Beach as the sport has boomed in popularity.
He's hoping they can find space and money to add courts without having to convert the tennis courts.
