West Lake Brantley Road in Longwood features tight curves, and one resident in the area says the danger there is only going to increase.

  • Residents along Lake Brantley Road worried about curves
  • Some say new neighborhood will add large amount of traffic
  • Drivers ignore 20 mph speed limit, neighbors say

Kathy Ahern from Longwood writes in this week...

"There is a new housing development which will add a large amount of traffic in this neighborhood's two lane road. The problem is, I live on a 90-degree corner which I have had several cars run through the fence every year. No one obeys the speed limit, even the school buses! Please help!"

Upon arrival, we noticed evidence of an accident from fresh flowers that were marking a memorial.

The memorial in question was on Lake Brantley Road in Longwood (the section north of Sand Lake Road) near one of the corridor's most treacherous curves. It's the memorial of Brian Harrelson, who was involved in a fatal motorcycle crash in 2014 after failing to negotiate the right curve.

Residents we talked to voiced their concerns that when more traffic is added, those curves will become even more dangerous.

And more traffic is coming. A new Pulte Homes development called the Retreat at Lake Brantley is under way just north of those curves and will add about 100 new homes to the area.

The curves themselves are fairly straightforward. There are signs warning of approaching curves, telling drivers to negotiate them at 20 mph. There are also flashing lights and signs guiding vehicles around those curves.

Still, residents say the warnings don't stop vehicles from speeding by.

This week's writer, Kathy, said that most of the accidents occur in the late night/early morning hours. She wants the corner removed and a traffic signal installed since she says the county won't put in speed bumps or a guardrail.

So, what's next?

Seminole County engineering told us that there were several public hearings before the project was approved, and it claims most residents were fine with it. We were also told an analysis of the area found the project would not negatively impact traffic operations.

As far as the crashes are concerned, Seminole County told me there have only been seven reported in the past six years.

The county also said traffic data and crash history suggest a signal is not needed at this location, and could instead cause other safety issues like drivers ignoring the device.

So at least for right now, Kathy, it doesn't seem any immediate changes are in the cards.

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