More than $7 million in lighting upgrades coming to State Road 16 in St. Johns County

More than $7 million worth of safety upgrades are coming to a busy local road. The Florida Department of Transportation is adding hundreds of light poles along State Road 16 in St. Johns County.

“It’s dark, you can’t see people,” said Sarah Spellman, a driver.

Another driver said, “I’ve seen people get hit several times.”

It’s a busy road during the day. It becomes more dangerous in the dark. According to FDOT, from 2009 to 2013, there were 800 wrecks.

“It’s dark, we definitely need light,” said Spellman.

For Spellman, traffic deaths aren’t just a statistic. A friend  of hers was hit and killed.

“He was trying to cross the road, and it hit him. He didn’t make it,” she said.

Now State Road 16 is getting $7.7 million in lighting upgrades. FDOT will be adding 423 light poles from around I-95 to San Marco Avenue, about a 7-mile stretch. Another stretch of State Road 16 farther west of the interstate will also get lighting.

“It would indeed help,” said Scarfo.

FDOT will start installing the lights in April. The project should be completed in late spring of 2021.

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