DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – With Daytona Beach’s Bike Week just around the corner, riders will notice significant changes, particularly along the revitalized beachside corridor on International Speedway Boulevard.
The state invested $30 million to enhance safety and aesthetics, but some business owners are concerned about the impact on their customers.
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The stretch of International Speedway Boulevard between Halifax Avenue and A1A, considered the gateway to Daytona Beach’s beachside, has undergone a two-year transformation.
The project, which cost $30 million, is nearly complete, with only landscaping left to finish. Improvements include wider traffic lanes, 10-foot-wide sidewalks for pedestrian safety, and a median in the middle.
“They have put a lot of stuff in!” said Dr. Charles Duva, who built Beaches Restaurant and Carwash three years ago to spur revitalization on the corridor.
Now, with the state’s improvements, business owners are relieved that the heavy construction is over.
“Our business was down 50 to 55% in the month of June of 23 until just recently. We’re hoping it’ll come back,” Duva said.
Duva said some new features require adjustments to welcome customers back. The median has cut off access to northern businesses for eastbound traffic, prompting Duva to get creative for Bike Week.
“I own the property on the other side of the street on the northwest corner. We’re going to put an electric sign on a trailer that you can rent and then some additional signage on the building we own across the street,” he explained.
News 6 reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), which stated that potential effects on businesses are usually addressed during the design phase. However, the reality of the design is becoming apparent for others.
Linda Meade, a bartender at Spanky’s Bar on the corner of ISB and A1A, expressed concerns about the lack of parking with Bike Week approaching. All of the bar’s parking lot was taken over by the new sidewalk.
“We get a lot of tourists from the motels and we get walking traffic and that’s the only thing saving us right now,” Meade said.
The county’s project to revamp the ISB beach ramp is also in its final stages, with additional parking added to help alleviate concerns. As for closures ahead of Bike Week, there were worries about the A1A repaving project. However, the state has confirmed that all construction will pause during Bike Week, ensuring no lane closures.