Construction plans will close Palm Bay Road from its intersection at Minton Road (Minton Road northbound/southbound will remain open) east to Norfolk Parkway. Norfolk Parkway will be the designated detour road. Westbound turns onto Palm Bay Road will not be allowed at Athens Drive, but Athens Drive will remain open for traffic moving north and south and turning to the east on Palm Bay Road. (Google map image)
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Variable message boards, detour signs and orange construction barrels have been placed on the side of Palm Bay Road and connecting thoroughfares tonight to alert motorists of pending stormwater drain pipe repairs that will close a half-mile section of Palm Bay Road, between Minton Road east toward Interstate 95, an estimated 12 weeks.
Variable message boards, detour signs and orange construction barrels will be placed on the side of Palm Bay Road and connecting thoroughfares beginning Monday, March 10, to alert motorists of pending stormwater drain pipe repairs that will close a half-mile section of Palm Bay Road, between Minton Road east toward Interstate 95, an estimated 12 weeks.
The road closure, effective at 10 p.m. Monday, March 24, stems from a collapsed 7.5-foot diameter stormwater drain that runs beneath Palm Bay Road at its intersection with Minton Road.
The collapse not only impedes drainage and poses a flood threat to area residents and businesses, but has also compromised the integrity of Palm Bay Road which crosses over the stormwater drain as motorists head onto and off of Minton Road.
Temporary repairs, which included pipes fortified by sandbags placed through the collapsed drain, have helped keep the intersection open, but a long-term fix is urgently needed.
Temporary repairs, which included pipes fortified by sandbags placed through the collapsed drain, have helped keep the intersection open, but a long-term fix is urgently needed.
Within the next two weeks, Brevard County Public Works crews will begin site preparation for replacement of the collapsed stormwater drain with 7-foot-by-11-foot concrete box culverts, a move that will improve drainage in the area as well as make the roadway safer for the estimated 70,000 vehicles that use the intersection daily.
Along with Palm Bay Road, message boards alerting motorists to the pending road closure will also be located along Minton Road, Emerson Drive and near the exit ramps of I-95 at Palm Bay Road.
John Denninghoff
Brevard County Public Works Director John Denninghoff said efforts are being made now to give the motoring public as much advance notice as possible to the upcoming road closure.
Once the project is underway, Denninghoff, as well as city leaders in Palm Bay and West Melbourne, are asking motorists to heed these recommendations:
• Please be patient. • Please plan ahead. • Please plan alternate routes in advance. • Please plan to leave early to ensure you reach your destination on time.
Construction plans will close Palm Bay Road from its intersection at Minton Road (Minton Road northbound/southbound will remain open) east to Norfolk Parkway.
Lanes in the construction area on Palm Bay Road will be closed in both directions. Denninghoff said one option considered was to close different sections of the road at a time, but that would force the project timetable into July. “We could already have a hurricane or major storm event by then,” he said. “We’re looking to shorten the timetable anyway we can. We’re at a good time of the year because we are in the dry season, but bigger rain events are more probable as we move later in the year.”
Norfolk Parkway will be the designated detour road.
Westbound turns onto Palm Bay Road will not be allowed at Athens Drive, but Athens Drive will remain open for traffic moving north and south and turning to the east on Palm Bay Road.
Alternate routes include Malabar Road, U.S. 192 or through residential streets, though potential gridlock at peak traffic hours would require motorists to plan ahead for likely delays.
Right turn lanes onto Palm Bay Road will be closed on Minton Road.
Lanes in the construction area on Palm Bay Road will be closed in both directions. Denninghoff said one option considered was to close different sections of the road at a time, but that would force the project timetable into July. “We could already have a hurricane or major storm event by then,” he said. “We’re looking to shorten the timetable anyway we can. We’re at a good time of the year because we are in the dry season, but bigger rain events are more probable as we move later in the year.”
EXERCISE CAUTION, NO CUTTING THROUGH ALLOWED
The closing of that stretch of Palm Bay Road will limit access to convenience stores, gas stations and other retailers in the area, but there is access to these businesses off Norfolk Parkway and other side streets.
Denninghoff said a major concern, however, is cut-through traffic – those motorists looking for a shortcut through the construction area – could create safety issues. “Cutting through would make it extremely dangerous for pedestrians, so our concern is we don’t want that to happen,” Denninghoff said. “This will be monitored.”
The stormwater drain replacement will cost an estimated $750,000, which includes reconstruction of Palm Bay Road at the intersection and replacement and relocation of a traffic signal where Minton Road motorists turn eastbound onto Palm Bay Road, heading toward I-95.
The stormwater drain replacement will cost an estimated $750,000, which includes reconstruction of Palm Bay Road at the intersection and replacement and relocation of a traffic signal where Minton Road motorists turn eastbound onto Palm Bay Road, heading toward I-95.
Brevard County Public Works crews will replace the stormwater drain and make the road repairs. A primary objective is to have the box culverts in place and the road back open before peak periods of the hurricane season. The projected work schedule targets the reopening of Palm Bay Road to traffic by June 11. Throughout the construction phase, work will be performed 12 hours per day, 6 days a week.
Brevard County Public Works crews will replace the stormwater drain and make the road repairs. A primary objective is to have the box culverts in place and the road back open before peak periods of the hurricane season.
“This won’t be popular, but I assure you we are attempting to keep the site busy 6 days a week until it is finished,” Denninghoff said. Plans are to have enough work completed within the next two weeks that, by the time the first box culverts arrive, they can be moved from the rig they’re delivered on directly into place.
“There’s going to be a lot of stuff going on. In just a matter of a 12-week period, the plan is to get this drainage ditch working better than it ever worked and get this road back open,” Denninghoff said. “The metal pipe that’s there did great at over 30 years, but at the end of the day we want to make this thing work the way it should have worked all along. This will extend the life of that culvert another 50 years.”
Norfolk Parkway will be the designated detour road.
The stormwater drain replacement will cost an estimated $750,000, which includes reconstruction of Palm Bay Road at the intersection and replacement and relocation of a traffic signal where Minton Road motorists turn eastbound onto Palm Bay Road, heading toward I-95.
