New Smyrna Beach officials are asking residents to weigh in on a proposed roundabout at the busy U.S. 1 intersection near the municipal airport after a run of serious crashes that have killed drivers and passengers in recent years. The idea on the table is straightforward: rework the intersection at Inlet Shores Drive so traffic slows down before it is too late. An open house on the concept is set for later this week as the city tries to head off another deadly wreck like the 2024 crash that claimed three lives.
Over three years, 13 reported crashes at U.S. 1 and Inlet Shores Drive led to five deaths, seven injuries, and an estimated $239,000 in property damage, according to the City of New Smyrna Beach. In one of those collisions, a motorcyclist was recorded at roughly 130 mph before impact, the city noted. The upcoming open house, led by transportation engineering firm Kittelson & Associates, runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive, the city said.
The July 2024 crash that killed three people, two of them local teachers, sharpened the focus on the U.S. 1 corridor and pushed staff to hunt for a safer design, as reported by WFTV. The intersection is the main entry to the Inlet Shores neighborhood and sits near a popular boat ramp, the airport entrance, and several small businesses, a mix that residents say leads to risky turning maneuvers. Neighbors worry the current layout and speeds leave almost no margin for error for anyone trying to enter or cross U.S. 1.
Neighbors and officials weigh in
Locals who drive the stretch every day say the danger comes down to speed and what drivers can actually see. “They don’t stop in time,” said Chris Reinhart, who works nearby, adding that drivers are often “coming down at 60 miles per hour,” ClickOrlando reported. New Smyrna Beach Airport Director Arvin Weese told the outlet that the 2024 tragedy sped up discussions with the Florida Department of Transportation and that a roundabout could compel drivers to ease off the gas as they approach the intersection.
Why a roundabout?
Traffic engineers point to studies and state guidance that say roundabouts tend to cut down on fatal and injury crashes by slowing approach speeds and eliminating left-turn and right-angle conflict points, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. City officials told ClickOrlando the project is still “three to five years” away from construction while studies, funding, and permits are sorted out.
How to weigh in
The city is encouraging residents to review the concept renderings and leave written comments, and says that feedback will help determine whether the roundabout plan moves forward. For those who cannot make the meeting, questions and written input can be submitted through the city’s public meeting portal or directly to transportation staff, according to the City of New Smyrna Beach. If the project advances, residents can expect design work, funding efforts, and permitting to stretch over the next several years.
