FDOT has been examining the possibility of constructing a roundabout at the intersection of Citrus Way and US 98 and construction could begin as early as 2020. This is FDOT’s proposed solution to prevent additional accidents at the intersection which has claimed the lives of 7 people since 2015.
The most recent fatal accident occurred last July, when a Chevrolet truck drove into the path of a garbage truck. The Chevrolet truck was heading north on Citrus Way, while the garbage truck was eastbound on 98. John Stevenson, 25 drove the Chevrolet truck while Donna Adams, 25, occupied the passenger seat. The Chevrolet truck spun out and caught fire after impact with the garbage truck. Stevenson and Adams were killed. The driver of the garbage truck, Vincent Iverson of Land O Lakes suffered minor injury after the truck rolled on its side.
FDOT determined that the intersection did not meet the moving count requirements and number of traffic light preventable accidents within a year to warrant installing a traffic light. An FDOT email to the Mark Guttman and Assistant County Administrator Brian Malmberg, explained that the required volume of turning movement is 420 cars per hour “for each of 8 hours traveling along a major street.” The FDOT conducted turning movement counts at the intersection in 2015 and found 244 to 317 vehicles per hour, which does not meet their criteria. The criteria was not met in 2009 either.
Hernando County has taken steps to increase safety at the intersection as part of the CR-491 repaving project, completed in 2016. The county installed rumble strips on Citrus Way both North and South of US 98. They re-aligned the intersection for improved visibility and installed 48” stop signs North and South of US 98 on Citrus Way.
The Citrus Chronicle reports that the cost estimate to install the roundabout is $1.4 million. A public meeting will be held at Pasco-Hernando State College, 11415 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Brooksville from 5 to 7 p.m. on March 21st.