A Melbourne gas station owner is warning he may have to shut down his business after a Florida Department of Transportation project altered traffic patterns on US-1. Jomon Lukose, who has operated the Marathon Gas Station and Fried Chicken at the corner of US-1 and Hoag Avenue for 22 years, says sales have dropped 40% since FDOT installed a raised median along the highway. The change prevents southbound drivers from making a left turn into his station, forcing them to take a U-turn instead.
The raised median is part of a safety initiative by FDOT to reduce crashes on a stretch of US-1 south of downtown Melbourne. The department replaced the old dual left-turn median with directional openings and raised barriers. Lukose said the new design has made it harder for customers to access his station, especially large trucks. 'They can’t even take a U-turn on the next signal at University Boulevard,' he said. 'They have to go further on Palm Bay Road.'
FDOT recommends large trucks use a U-turn at Robert J. Conlan Boulevard, about one mile away. But Lukose said the detour adds 2.5 miles to truck trips, hurting business. 'I don’t think I can survive,' he said. The station, which has been a fixture in the area since 1994, now faces uncertainty as traffic patterns shift. FDOT did not respond to requests for comment on the project's impact.
Lukose said the changes have already forced him to cut hours and reduce staff. 'I am very sad,' he said. 'My business percentage is down like 40% in sales.' He is exploring options but fears the station may not be viable without access to the old left-turn lane. Local residents have mixed reactions, with some supporting the safety improvements and others worried about the impact on small businesses.