The Florida Department of Transportation is set to install raised medians on Courtenay Parkway between State Road 528 and Catalina Isle Drive, a project expected to reduce left-turn collisions but drawing pushback from nearby businesses. The plan, announced in May 2026, follows similar work on A1A in Daytona Beach and US-1 in Melbourne. FDOT officials cited data showing 1,498 crashes — including 13 fatalities — on the stretch of road between 2014 and November 2025, with 62% involving left turns or rear-end collisions. The department aims to eliminate the current two-way left-turn lane and replace it with a raised median that limits left-turn access.
Bill Stasak, who owns a gun and outdoor sporting goods store on Courtenay Parkway, supports the safety improvements but worries about the impact on his business. He said he has witnessed three severe accidents at his intersection and agrees that reducing left turns could cut crashes. However, he fears the design might confuse drivers and reduce traffic to local stores. 'They’re going to have to make new turns to get into them,' Stasak said. 'They’re going to have a hard time getting in and out of them.'
FDOT officials did not respond to requests for comment on the project’s timeline or expected costs, but the department has previously emphasized that raised medians reduce crash rates by up to 40% in similar projects. The changes would affect the 34,000 vehicles that pass through the corridor daily between SR-520 and SR-528. Local officials have not yet scheduled public meetings to discuss the plan, though some business owners say they want more input before construction begins.
The proposal highlights a growing debate in Brevard County between safety improvements and economic concerns. While FDOT focuses on reducing fatalities, merchants argue that altered traffic patterns could hurt small businesses. Stasak, who has owned his store for a decade, said he remains conflicted. 'I’d love to see it be safer,' he said. 'But I see an issue with customers not wanting to come in as much.'