The project is the result of heavy congestion on Minton Road in the area of Palm Bay and Melbourne, Florida.  Brevard County, Florida needed a new north-south alternative to reduce the traffic congestion along Minton and Wickham Roads.  Twenty years ago, a community grass root movement called “The Friends of the Parkway” was born to rally state and local support for this roadway corridor.  Brevard County Public Works was instrumental in leading the engineering and construction of the Parkway.  The St. Johns Highway Parkway will help alleviate the challenging traffic congestion by providing an alternate north-south route to access the City Palm Bay and the City of Melbourne (along the western side of I-95).  St. Johns Heritage Parkway is an ongoing multi-million dollar project located in Brevard County.

The scope of the project included design of a new 4-mile roadway from the City of Palm Bay’s City limits continuing north terminating approximately 1-mile north of the new US 192 intersection (where it ties into FDOT’s SJHP project).  DRMP’s work on this project included 3.1-miles of new 2-lane roadway improvements and 0.3-miles of side street widening improvement along US 192. A new traffic signal was designed with modifications to allow for future turn lane additions at the intersection of SJHP and US 192. The project was designed as an ultimate 4-lane rural facility with initial construction of the two northbound lanes (southern section).  The 4-lane section is being designed for the northern section from south of the US 192 intersection to the northern project terminus.  Extensive coordination with Brevard County, FDOT District Five and permitting agencies was required on this project.

Upon completion, St. Johns Heritage Parkway will provide Brevard County motorists a new north-south alternative to the congested Minton Road. This new thoroughfare will include the latest innovations in stormwater designs for exceptional roadway drainage. The addition of the new traffic light at St. Johns Heritage Parkway and US 192 obtains maximum efficiency for a busy intersection by relieving traffic congestion.  FDOT’s section of the St. Johns Heritage Parkway includes a new interchange with I-95 and Ellis Road.  This connection will improve vehicular access to the airport.  DRMP’s design of this project provides Brevard County motorists with accessibility improvements along the west side of I-95.