Eucalyptus Street To Remain Open

SEBRING - Despite the sheriff's recommendation to restrict vehicular traffic on Eucalyptus Street to protect pedestrians, Sebring City Council has decided to keep limited access at its intersection with Sebring Parkway.

Sheriff Susan Benton said because so many pedestrians cross Eucalyptus Street to access the government center and courthouse, she suggested the possibility of creating a cul-de-sac instead of connecting it to the Sebring Parkway.

Council member Jeff Carlson said he thinks closing access to the parkway from Eucalyptus would force motorists to use other roads, with more pedestrians and schools.

"If we reroute traffic to protect adults crossing the street, we will be rerouting it to an area where children are crossing," Carlson said.

Council member Margie Rhoades, who also teaches at Sebring Middle School, said she wants to keep the traffic away from the school.

"If we close Eucalyptus, the middle and high school areas would see increased traffic, and anyone who is around those areas can tell you they don't need any increased traffic," Rhoades said.

The council voted at Tuesday's meeting for the intersection of Eucalyptus Street and Sebring Parkway to have access via right turns onto Eucalyptus from the Sebring Parkway and right turns onto Sebring Parkway from Eucalyptus. Councilors also voted to impose the same restrictions at Violet Avenue.

Ramon Gavarrete, county engineer, said about 1,300 cars per day currently use Eucalyptus to access Sebring Parkway traveling northbound, toward its intersection of U.S. 27.

Once Eucalyptus becomes a right in/right out access point, those motorists will have to find a signalized access point to travel northbound. Access points in the immediate area will be available at the parkway's intersections with Commerce, Center and Lemon avenues and Ridgewood Drive.

"From an engineering standpoint, the less points of access you have to a road like the parkway, the better it is," Gavarrete said.

Gavarrete said if Violet was not restricted, it could become a cut-through to access the parkway northbound, so he recommended restricting access at its intersection with Sebring Parkway, as well.

"I think making Violet a right in/right out only allows the residential character of the street to be maintained and avoids it being used as a cut-through street," Gavarrete said.

He also said phase two construction of Sebring Parkway is on track. The section of Eucalyptus Street between Center and Grapefruit streets will likely be closed for three to five months.

A portion of Sebring Parkway was closed Wednesday for the relocation of utilities before beginning work on a new traffic signal at Scenic Highway.

Gavarrete said when the school year ends, in June, work will begin at the intersection of Kenilworth Boulevard and Highlands Avenue. Phase two of the parkway construction also will convert the current Highlands Avenue into a five-lane roadway, running all the way to U.S. 27.