The purpose of this PD&E is to address safety and flooding identified within the project area. The PD&E evaluated resilient designs to alleviate flooding on SR 72 and SR 70 caused by the Peace River. Severe storms and historic flooding have inundated segments of SR 72 and SR 70. This consequently restricts mobility in the region, making a Strategic Intermodal System (SIS) and Evacuation Route (SR 70) impassable, affecting safety, and reduces emergency response for the local area. SR 70 provides intrastate travel between the City of Fort Pierce, St Lucie County on the east coast to the City of Bradenton, Manatee County on the west coast and spans five counties. SR 72 is an alternative route to the west coast starting from its eastern terminus at SR 70 and is the most direct route to Siesta Key, Sarasota, and Venice in Sarasota County. Maintaining access to this route is crucial for commerce, safety, and the overall transportation network and regional connectivity. The presence of commercial and recreational spaces adjacent to the project area creates pedestrian activity, however there are no existing facilities available and motorists and non-motorists are left vulnerable to crashes. Additionally, the existing driveways within the project area are spaced very close together and increases the risk of crashes in this area.
The segment of SR 72 between CR 661 and SR 70 has been prone to severe flooding over the years. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) effective Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), dated November 6, 2013, depict Zone AE, A, and X floodplain limits within the project proximity. The Zone AE floodplains, which are areas that have a 1% chance of annual flooding, are consistent with the Peace River and its overbank area. This riverine floodplain encroaches into the SR 72 and SR 70 R/W and has a Base Flood Elevation (BFE) of 25.0 feet and 26.0 feet. The Zone A floodplains, which are areas that have a 1% annual chance of flooding, but do not have an established BFE are located along the western portion of SR 72 within the project limits. Several publications and other historical records have shown this portion of the roadway frequently inundating during hurricane season. A shallow base clearance coupled with repeated flooding, decreases the overall service life of the roadway and leads to more unscheduled repairs and maintenance. The project area is within an open basin where runoff flows via sheet flow to roadside ditches and through existing cross drains in a general southeast direction towards the Peace River. There is currently no existing permit for the area and the runoff is untreated prior to discharge. Frequent flooding restricts regional travel as well as adversely affects access and mobility for the local community. Public safety is at notable risk during these flooding events as it can delay emergency response from first responders, restrict access to important shelters, hospitals, or medical facilities and restrict access to other goods and necessities.
The intersection of SR 72 and SR 70 is currently a T-intersection, stop controlled at the terminus of SR 72 where it intersects with SR 70. SR 72 has a high level of truck traffic due to citrus fruit being brought from regional groves to the Peace River Citrus Products facility, located approximately 0.70 miles southwest of the project limits on SR 72. The truck traffic from this facility and other regional agricultural or rural-residential uses creates a high number of large-vehicle turning movements at the intersection of SR 72 and SR 70.
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