VILANO BEACH, Fla. – One way in, one way out. People living in Vilano Beach say traffic has become unbearable and there could be safety risks because of it.
Residents came to a St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners meeting April 7th, voicing concerns about congestion and emergency vehicle access. One resident said his emergency could have ended much worse.
“If this incident would have taken place at 3:00 on a Saturday or Sunday, I would have bled to death before I got to the hospital,” Dennis said.
News4Jax went to Vilano Beach Friday to find out what people say they are dealing with.
“You have two beach accesses and the beach is free. I want everybody to go to the beach,” said Rick Hodgkins. “You’ve got a roundabout at the other end of the bridge and a two-lane road that just can’t handle the traffic flow.”
We talked to another man who said the last two years has seen significant growth in traffic.
The traffic situation has gotten notoriously worse,“ said Sean Sowell. “On the weekends, I tell people just avoid Vilano Beach.”
Neighbors say with Porpoise Point Beach Access reopening Saturday things could get worse.
Many people said not only is nicer beach weather contributing, but also slow signal lights and developments that have opened in the last several years like the Hyatt Place, and then future condominiums.
Commissioner Christian Whitehurst noted the area’s growth may be driven by its appeal.
“They have redeveloped the area and it’s really an attractive place and as a result of that, we are seeing a lot more locals and tourists alike being drawn to Vilano Beach,” Whitehurst said.
During the County Commission meeting Commissioner Krista Joseph raised the idea of designating an emergency helicopter landing area. Ultimately officials say a town hall with the Sheriff’s Office will be held in the future.
St. Johns County Fire and Rescue told News4Jax they are not experiencing any delays in response time to the area.