Daytona Beach, FL – A big addition to the International Speedway Boulevard corridor is almost ready to go.
The Florida Department of Transportation will hold a ribbon-cutting at 3pm Monday at the newly built $3.9 million pedestrian bridge located across from Daytona International Speedway.
Among those expected to be at the ribbon-cutting include DIS President Joie Chitwood III, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry and FDOT District Five Secretary Noranne Downs.
That bridge – part of a $18.7 million construction project aimed at making that stretch of ISB safer for pedestrians – stretches across the road near the DIS Tours building, not far from another similar pedestrian bridge.
FDOT spokeswoman Jennifer Horton says the bridge should be open for traffic before Thanksgiving and should help in reducing the number of accidents between pedestrians and drivers, especially in a county that regularly ranks among the state leaders in pedestrian fatalities.
“This project was advanced based upon Volusia County’s high ranking for bicycle and pedestrian injury due to crashes, making it a high priority county for focusing on pedestrian and bicycle safety,” Horton added. “The project evolved in anticipation of development along this corridor as a year-round tourist destination.”
The bridge itself – mainly steel with a concrete deck and access ramps – was built in Alabama and delivered in pieces by truck to Daytona Beach, where it was assembled on site.
The full project – done through P & S Paving/Superior Construction Company – focused on a 1.38 mile stretch of ISB that includes the new 340,000-pound pedestrian bridge. It added landscaping – including 338 trees – as well as lighting, fencing and bridge treatments.
Workers also plan to fully upgrade a nearby intersection and replace sidewalks to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act by the time the project finishes early next year.
Construction initially began in October 2014.
Approximately 9.1 million visitors come to Volusia County each year, many for events like Bike Week and the Daytona 500 that place heavy traffic along the ISB corridor.
Around 43,500 vehicles use the ISB corridor every day, according to FDOT statistics.
Photos above and below of the new bridge are courtesy of FDOT.
Copyright 2015 Southern Stone Communications.