- December 4, 2025
The roadwork in downtown Ormond Beach has made Granada Boulevard an "obstacle course."
That's how Ormond Beach resident Marvin Miller described the $9.2 million road safety project started by the Florida Department of Transportation in the spring of 2024. During a City Commission meeting last month on July 22, Miller showed the commission — and meeting attendees — photographs of scuff marks and damage on recently installed curb extensions and chicanes.
"The construction on Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach from U.S. 1 east to A1A has caused dangerous and hazardous risks for every driver," Miller said. "Six-inch concrete obstructions on Granada Boulevard probably there to slow down traffic by moving vehicles, weaving left and right, and driving lanes that have been reduced in size, have caused accidents and damage to many vehicles. ... Every bit of this Granada Boulevard project has to be one of the worst ever conceived by FDOT."
At that July commission meeting, the officials agreed: The roadwork on the 1.5 mile stretch of road has caused frustrations.
"We're really working case by case with this with FDOT, particularly in that roadway, to address these problems," Mayor Jason Leslie said. "I can probably safely say also that some of these tire marks here are probably mine too from my vehicle."
In response to public input during the construction phase of the project, FDOT will remove some of the new curb extensions, known as "bulb-outs" and chicanes, which are slight curvatures in the road to act like traffic calming measures. In a statement to the Observer, FDOT said that the modifications will be made in the coming weeks.
"FDOT appreciates the public’s input and has been coordinating with the City of Ormond Beach on the modifications to ensure a project that will fulfill the community’s vision while also improving safety for the traveling public," FDOT stated.
The original project consisted of repaving Granada Boulevard from U.S. 1 to A1A, skipping over the bridge. The roadways were slightly narrowed to encourage slower driving speeds, and the following pedestrian improvements were either added or improved:
Other improvements included upgraded lighting at intersections, a new directional median to reduce the potential of left-turn conflicts at Washington Street and the addition of bicycle lanes next to turn lanes. FDOT also lowered the speed limit to 30 mph.
"The downtown Ormond Beach area is a busy corridor with lots of pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and the project was designed to improve safety for all," FDOT stated.
At the commission's meeting on Aug. 5, City Manager Joyce Shanahan provided an update on the roadwork. Shanahan shared that she and Assistant City Manager Shawn Finley recently met with FDOT, bringing the photos Miller brought to the commission.
"They were very receptive to our concerns, and those of the residents," Shanahan said.
Some of the changes coming include the removal of the curb extension east of Halifax Drive; the modification of the curb radius at Halifax Drive; the modification of the separator at A1A; and the relocation of the traffic control cabinet in front of Ormond Garage.
The city, Shanahan explained, has requested the review of additional curb extensions and chicanes installed on West Granada Boulevard.
FDOT also recently modified another of its previous roadwork projects — the one encompassing A1A south of Granada Boulevard. A 60-foot portion of a new median was removed by FDOT this summer to ensure smoother turns for large trucks turning right on A1A from East Granada Boulevard, FDOT stated.
The roadwork in the downtown is expected to be complete by this fall.
