- December 17, 2025
Following new data, the Florida Department of Transportation is modifying plans for its future $19 million road resurfacing project on Nova Road.
The project, which will resurface almost 4 miles of road on Nova from the intersections at Flomich Street in Holly Hill to U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach, was discussed during an Ormond Beach City Commission workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The project will add a new traffic signal and pedestrian crossings at Old Kings Road. FDOT had originally proposed replacing the existing center two-way left turn lane between Granada Boulevard and Wilmette Avenue with a 16-foot raised median, but due to higher traffic counts, the state department is reworking its plans.
"Ultimately, when we first did our study and our design, the counts that we performed were several years old," said Jim Stroz, FDOT District 5 director of transportation development. "We were encouraged to get some new counts. There's been some increase in traffic, and so we did that."
The median would have forced drivers looking to turn into the Ormond Beach Marketplace plaza or the Truist bank to complete a U-turn at the new traffic light at Old Kings Road. But, based on the updated traffic counts, the road design, which included a 4-foot concrete separator for vehicles in the left turning lane, would have led to a long queue of cars waiting to turn left, impacting traffic flow at peak times.
FDOT's proposed redesign presented to the commission kept most of the existing center two-way left turn lane in that stretch of road, only impacting the 7-Eleven next to Publix. However, looking at traffic projections and how they could create potential conflict points for drivers, the commissioners asked Stroz if the separator could be extended a bit further south.
Though the longer separator would then prevent drivers from turning left directly onto the Truist bank, commissioners pointed out that access was still possible through the access road leading to the Ormond Beach Marketplace plaza.
"We want it safe, but we want our businesses to thrive," Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland said.
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, who was present at the workshop, agreed with the traffic modifications. What is being proposed, he said, is safer than what is in place today.
From 2016 to 2023, FDOT reported a total of 11 pedestrian and bicycle crashes in the area of Nova Road between an area just south of Granada Boulevard north to Wilmette Avenue. There have also been five fatal crashes — two involving cars, two involving motorcycles and one involving a pedestrian.
"That stretch right there is probably the deadliest stretch in our city," Godfrey said.
The workshop was held in efforts to increase communication and collaboration between FDOT and the city of Ormond Beach, in light of previous issues and citizen dissatisfaction at FDOT's recent projects in the downtown and on A1A.
"This way, we could all be on the same page here as this project is moving along," Mayor Jason Leslie said. "Because I think, if we did that last time, that would have saved a lot of us, a lot of trouble."
FDOT is also looking at the feasibility of installing flashing yellow turn arrows at the traffic signals at the intersections along the 4-mile project area on Nova Road, as well as restrictions allowing drivers to turn right when at a red stoplight.
Construction of the road project is expected to begin in summer 2026.
