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Cars turn left onto Nova Road from eastbound U.S. Highway 192 in a January 2021 photo. The intersection’s only traffic control device is a stop sign for those turning left on 192 from Nova. PHOTO/GOOGLE MAPS
Osceola County reported this week that it is working with the Florida Department of Transportation to make the intersection of U.S. 192 and Nova Road east of the city of St. Cloud safer by expediting a muchneeded traffic signal.
It was the site of a fatal crash on Dec. 15 that claimed the life of a 27-year-old man, a St. Cloud resident, when the car he was riding in turned into the path of another westbound vehicle in the pre-dawn hours, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Local residents have said the intersection has been the site of other collisions. It’s only current traffic control device is a stop sign for those turning left on 192 from Nova.
County officials said Monday FDOT has the funding to design and construct the traffic signal – and design is already underway.
Commissioner Ricky Booth, whose District 5 includes that area, and has lived on that side of the county all his life, said the situation has been important to public safety in the district, even prior to last week’s crash.
“I asked that the County work with our partners at FDOT to move this project forward as quickly as possible,” he said. “I’m satisfied that we were able to take a fastforward approach to a lot of the preparation that goes into installation of these traffic signals. FDOT is looking to have the light operational in less than 12 months, if not sooner – and given the constraints on the supply chain that’s a win for residents.
According to the county, FDOT was able to speed up construction of the traffic signal by ordering the strain poles and signal cabinets early.
“To the credit of our county transportation staff, we’re going to have a light there as quickly as we can, but it’s still going to be a few months,” Booth said. “We need to encourage everyone to drive as safely as possible.”
The county also reported FDOT is looking to extend the left-hand turn lane on eastbound U.S. 192 to Nova. The County said it has offered the use of any of its equipment that could further expedite the project.
