The intersection of 62nd Avenue North and 25th Street North in St. Petersburg, Fla., was identified as a high-crash location that was outdated and in need of safety and operational improvements.

In coordination with Pinellas County, a comprehensive set of upgrades was developed to address documented risks, traffic flow issues, and multimodal deficiencies along the corridor between 27th Street North and east of 25th Street North.

The corridor serves as a major east-west arterial in the St. Petersburg area with high traffic volumes and proximity to Interstate 275, while also providing access to surrounding residential neighborhoods, transit stops, and Sawgrass Lake Park, a popular 400-acre park. Years of community concerns included difficult turning movements, outdated signal infrastructure, limited pedestrian crossings, and the absence of continuous sidewalks.

Construction management for the 62nd Avenue North and 25th Street North Sidewalk and Intersection Improvements project required complex planning and coordination due to the corridor’s heavy usage, its location near Interstate 275, and the need to maintain continuous access to adjacent residential properties, including a neighboring mobile home park where residents rely on the roadway for daily travel, transit access, and emergency services.

As project manager for DRMP, the project’s prime consultant, I led the design and coordination efforts with our team for these improvements. We worked with Pinellas County to evaluate crash history, turning movements, traffic operations, and pedestrian connectivity to make sure the project could be constructed within the corridor’s physical and utility limitations. The design was completed in 2023 and construction concluded in April 2026.

Reducing Crash Risk and Congestion  

Within a constrained right of way, the roadway was expected to function for regional mobility while accommodating local access and pedestrian activity.

From an engineering standpoint, the most critical issue was managing conflict points. The intersection lacked adequate turn lane storage, which contributed to operational inefficiencies and increased the potential for left-turn crashes. Our solution introduced new eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes to better separate turning vehicles from through traffic and improve overall signal performance. These geometric improvements reduce decision pressure for drivers and create more predictable movements through the intersection.

At the same time, the corridor required modernization beyond vehicle capacity. Sidewalk gaps limited safe pedestrian access, particularly along 25th Street North. The project provides continuous, ADA-compliant sidewalks that now offer direct access to Sawgrass Lake Park. Upgraded pedestrian crossings improve visibility and accessibility, and the corridor is prepared for future 5-foot bicycle lanes to support evolving multimodal needs. Our design also incorporated transit stop accommodations to better serve riders along this heavily traveled route.

Modern Signals and Smarter Design

Signal infrastructure was another priority. Aging strain poles were replaced with modern mast arm assemblies to improve signal visibility, structural reliability, and long-term maintenance performance. Drainage improvements and milling and resurfacing within the project limits further enhance roadway durability and operational consistency.

Designing the improvements required close coordination. The project’s proximity to Interstate 275 necessitated ongoing collaboration with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to ensure compatibility with state infrastructure and operations. Existing City of St. Petersburg water main infrastructure within the corridor significantly influenced alignment decisions and foundation placement. Maintaining traffic flow and uninterrupted utility service during construction required phasing and detailed maintenance of traffic planning.

The 2019 crash was a tragic reminder of why these improvements matter. I take pride knowing that our work will make daily travel more predictable, reduce risks, and provide the community with a safer, more reliable route for all users.