Three Oaks Parkway Extension
This project is the completion of the roadway from Alico Road to Daniels Parkway. As a subconsultant, McCormick Taylor oversaw the traffic analysis, intersection designs, roadway lighting, and the widening of Daniels Parkway.
The Challenge
McCormick Taylor supported Avalon Engineering with the Three Oaks Parkway Extension, an update to the approved alignment and connections in Fort Myers, Lee County, FL. The roadway extends from the existing terminus north of Alico Road to provide a local connector to Fiddlesticks Boulevard and end at Daniels Parkway.
Due to increases in traffic volumes and land development, additional traffic studies were needed to be completed to identify alternatives to accommodate traffic during the opening and design years. As the extension of the roadway will have a regional impact and improve network mobility, the project study area included 25 intersections and 8 roadways. The network was modeled in Synchro/SimTraffic software to establish Existing, No-Build, and Build operations. Through this work, a revised alternative for the northern section of Three Oaks Parkway was identified which included a signalized intersection at Fiddlesticks Boulevard, a connection roadway and roundabout to the Shopping Plaza, and widening of Daniels Parkway.
How We Helped
McCormick Taylor completed the widening design of Daniels Parkway and worked to develop an alternative that stayed within right-of-way. A safety analysis of Daniels Parkway was completed, and several safety improvements were incorporated into the widening design including speed reduction, introduction of a bicycle lane, modifications to the shared use path, median closure, signal modification, and improvements to crosswalks and ADA ramps.
McCormick Taylor also developed the traffic signal plans for four intersections, two modifications to accommodate the widening and two new intersections to improve safety and operations. As the widening of Daniels Parkway is adjacent to FDOT limited access right-of-way and with FDOT proposing a new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at I-75 & Daniels Parkway, McCormick Taylor actively coordinated with FDOT to coordinate project improvement and design/construction schedules. To assist in understanding the operations between the widening improvements and the interchange improvements, McCormick Taylor developed a VISSIM model of Daniels Parkway and identified future improvement needs east of the I-75 interchange.
Results
With the completion of the project, network continuity is enhanced with the Three Oaks Parkway providing new north/south connection and safety and operations are improved with the widening of Daniels Parkway.
