A new traffic light would make it safer for golfers and their carts at The Breakers to cross busy South County Road, according to Palm Beach officials.
During a recent informal discussion, Town Council members voiced their support for a Public Works proposal to add a traffic light at South County Road’s intersection with Via Bethesda, about a minute’s drive south of Royal Poinciana Way. The proposed traffic light also would be near the one a little farther south at Barton Avenue.
Public Works Director Paul Brazil said that the intersection, just north of the Episcopalian Church Bethesda-by-the-Sea, is a common crossing for golfers using The Breakers course. On average, golfers cross the intersection to connect without a signal every 10 minutes.
That’s led to unsafe situations, such as golfers standing in the middle of the street to slow down traffic as golf carts cross, Brazil said during the June 9 discussion.
“What is going on is not good,” he told the council.
In August 2024, a golf cart driver ended up in the hospital with serious after a crash with a small SUV just north of South County Road’s intersection with Pine Walk Road.
But residents shouldn’t expect any action soon, as the project must be fitted into the town’s budget for next year. There’s also the year-long wait time to obtain a traffic-pole mast arm, Brazil said.
Originally, the department had investigated installing a smaller pedestrian beacon. But after further review, Brazil said, the staff decided a traffic light would better serve the roadway.
Unlike a pedestrian beacon, a new traffic light could be synchronized with the traffic lights at South County Road’s intersection with Breakers Row and Pine Walk Road just north of it, he said. That would allow traffic to move efficiently along South County Road, Brazil emphasized.
Most council members voiced their support for the change. Mayor Danielle Moore, who resides on nearby Pendleton Avenue, said the intersection has always been problematic and welcomed the proposal to increase safety on that section of roadway.
“It’s helpful for everyone,” she said.
But Council President Pro-Temp Lew Crampton said that if the town does go through with the proposal, The Breakers should help fund the project, since their guests who be the ones who most benefit from the change.
“So it seems to me, if we move forward, The Breakers should be participating in some way in supporting the cost of this,” he said.
While Council President Ted Cooney supported the plans, he also thought The Breakers should help pay for the project.
Crampton also said he wondered if the new light was needed, especially during the off-season, when the course has fewer golfers.
Brazil said that the town does see pedestrians cross that intersection year-round. Also, the intersection is a common route for maintenance employees from the town and The Breakers.
“A lot of that is (foot and golf-cart) traffic due to The Breakers, but there are pedestrians crossing the state road. There’s maintenance equipment crossing the state road,” he said.
Brazil said staff will discuss a cost-sharing plan with The Breakers and return with more information during the council’s July 16 budget meeting for the upcoming fiscal year.
Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach unveils traffic-light proposal to boost golfers’ safety
Reporting by Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Diego Diaz Lasa, Palm Beach Daily News | USA TODAY Network
