PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — UPDATE: After the story ran, we were told that FDOT started talks with SJC Public Works to work on the intersection at Dolphin Boulevard and A1A.
We are told the issue is on the "priority list" for the state to work on and they are working on the budge to include new signs. It is currently in the "appropriation" stage and could take up to six months to a year before a sign is on the ground.
-----
ORIGINAL STORY:
People who live right off A1A in Ponte Vedra say they're struggling with the increasing traffic. It's an area that's grown tremendously in the last decade.
Members of the county are trying what they can to help.
Residents at Dolphin Cove off A1A just south of JTB told First Coast News it takes several minutes to turn onto A1A during rush hour. They’ve also complained to the county that the noise levels have gotten to be too loud.
“With the motorcycles and the trucks going by we can't hear ourselves in the backyard. We can’t enjoy ourselves,” said Pat Rexroad, one of the people who live in the subdivision.
Rexroad said she moved into the community back in the 1980s and has seen the road go from two lanes to four.
Since A1A is a state road, the state maintains it.
The Florida Department of Transportation said noise walls are not cheap. By state law, a noise study is only done when construction on a road takes place. They said it's difficult to adjust noise with existing roads. However, St. John’s County Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker said he's bringing the problem to Public Works.
"We really do have to work with the state and see if the state can study the problem, and we can help lobby them a little bit to hopefully address this problem for our citizens,” Commissioner Blocker said.
FDOT told First Coast News for a road to qualify for noise abatement, the noise wall must reduce noise by at least 5 decibels per 2 residents who would benefit from the project.
St. John's County Public Works Director Neal Shinkre said they're pushing DOT for a new study.
"I just hope that the state listens to us," said Rexroad.
Public Works is meeting Thursday afternoon to study possible solutions to the congestion.