Classes are under way at the newly built Trout Creek Academy, located at 855 Timberwolf Trail, St. Augustine. Drivers traveling in the vicinity of Trout Creek Academy on County Road 16A and Timberwolf Trail will notice new signs and flashing beacons installed by St. Johns County Public Works. This is the newly installed intersection conflict warning system, and it’s the first warning system of its kind on St. Johns County roads.
This new warning system uses radar to detect vehicles on Timberwolf Trail that are approaching C.R. 16A. When a vehicle is detected on Timberwolf Trail, the system will activate flashing yellow warning beacons on C.R. 16A. This will prompt drivers on C.R. 16A to slow down and watch for vehicles coming out of Timberwolf Trail. On Timberwolf Trail, the stop sign has a 24-hour continuous flashing beacon to remind drivers to come to a complete stop before entering onto C.R. 16A. Drivers on C.R. 16A will also be alerted by the newly installed oversized signs that reads: “VEHICLE ENTERING HIGHWAY WHEN FLASHING.”
“Public safety is our top priority,” St. Johns County Public Works Director Greg Caldwell said. “The newly installed vehicle detection system will help promote more cautious driving and elevated awareness in this area.”
Drivers should take note that weekday morning drop-off starts at 7:40 a.m., and afternoon pick-up begins at 2:20 p.m.
Approximately an hour before and after these times, drivers should anticipate a higher volume of traffic with sudden slowdowns and intermittent back-ups.
“Patience and planning are paramount during the first days, sometimes weeks, of school,” Brennan Asplen, deputy superintendent for the St. Johns County School District, said. “Students will arrive to Trout Creek Academy as car and bus riders, walkers and bikers.”
Trout Creek Academy has designated areas for both the car line and the bus line for walkers, bikers and cart riders to travel safely.
“The overall safety of students, staff and visitors at our schools is a priority for the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, and traffic safety is a major component,” Sheriff Rob Hardwick said. “Plan for the usual delays that come with the first few weeks of school as families are establishing their routines, and we are evaluating the traffic flow at new locations to determine if additional resources are needed. In addition to the increase in traditional vehicle traffic, there will be an influx of school buses, pedestrians, bicycles and golf carts on our roadways, and it’s important to understand the related laws and regulations.”
