The 4th of July weekend is here and so are the crowds along Clearwater Beach.

  • Clearwater city council to vote on one-way streets proposal in August
  • Proposal would make Coronado Drive and Hamden Drive one way streets
  • Some beach residents do not like the idea

As those tourists and regulars flock to the award-winning beach the city streets will get jammed.

But city officials have a proposed plan that they say could help alleviate the congestion.  

The city is revisiting an old plan to clear up traffic congestion on the south end of the beach: One-way streets.

City officials have a proposed plan that they say could help alleviate the congestion. The idea proposed would make Coronado Drive and Hamden Drive one way streets.

This is not the first time city officials have discussed this plan. The idea of making two majord roads on the beach one way first came up in 2009. It wasn't well-received then and is not overwhelmingly popular now.

"It’s bad during spring break," said beach resident Janet Keyes. "It’s bad during a holiday weekend, but other than that we don’t have a problem. We just deal with it."

City officials want to make it easier to deal with it.

The idea proposed would make Coronado Drive and Hamden Drive one way streets.

City transportation officials say the one-way streets would alleviate congestion and make it safer for pedestrians.

Not everyone is on board.

"Traffic and parking, we’re fighting for every grain of sand," said beach resident Nan Shore. "Yeah, that’s what happens when you build seven hotels in one year."

City officials said they are working with residents and are aware many aren't happy with the one-way proposal.

Some residents have said changing the streets to one-ways would intrude on the buffer are near their homes.

Transportation officials said more residents may get on board with the proposal after this busy weekend.

Clearwater city council members will vote on the Coronado and Hamden street proposals on Aug. 4.