County Urges Manatee Drivers to Use Caution During Traffic Signal Retiming Project

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County officials are asking local drivers to use extra caution on County roads in coming months as traffic signals at several intersections around the County are adjusted and retimed under the second major implementation of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS).

Most drivers probably will not notice new timing periods at traffic signals but cautioned that during the signal retiming period, drivers may see different signals than they’re accustomed to. The retiming project begins on Monday, Jan. 14. Phase I Retiming project was completed in March along several major arteries in Manatee County.

Officials from Manatee County’s Traffic Engineering Division said the Florida Department of Transportation-funded project will allow more than 230 traffic signals in Manatee County to be better “coordinated” with each other but it will not mean a continuous chain of green lights around town during rush hours.

The project is designed to decrease travel times by increasing the efficiency of traffic signals. Some of the major roads included in this phase include 59th St. W., 26th St. W. between Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road in Bradenton; 63rd Ave. E. between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301, Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between State Roads 64 and 70 and University Parkway east of Interstate 75.

Drivers who are familiar with certain left turn signals on their routes may notice that the lights don’t turn green when they expect them to. That’s why the Traffic Engineering Division and Manatee safety officials urge drivers to use extra caution, especially on major thoroughfares in coming months.

The retiming project is the fourth major phase of the ATMS project which includes upgrading traffic signals and adding vehicle detection devices in order to increase traffic efficiency and reduce delays on major roads throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties.