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Residents speak out about safeguards for Indiantown Road in Jupiter

Umito November 21, 2024

Bumper-to-bumper traffic caused by a new traffic light on Indiantown Road near I-95 led residents to Jupiter City Hall Tuesday evening.

The light caused headaches for many drivers, who went to the city council to ask for solutions. Many have raised concerns with the City Council and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) about the new lighthouse, causing major traffic jams.

Jupiter City Council members urged FDOT officials to address traffic congestion near I-95 and Indiantown Road in Jupiter. Several residents are looking for solutions after experiencing significant traffic jams due to a new traffic light. pic.twitter.com/fBzuCNkCCV

–Zitlali Solache (@zitlalisolache) November 20, 2024

“It was extreme in the morning,” said Jupiter Farms resident Jen Reelitz. “Moms who can’t take their kids to school and people who can’t get to work.”

Jen Reelitz says she has experienced significant delays since last Thursday.

The meeting was an opportunity to hear directly about the status of the project and the improvements planned by FDOT.

“I think it’s just frustrating for residents who, this road has been working well for years, to now spend $18 million and it’s exponentially worse,” Reelitz said.

FDOT officials say a third eastbound lane of Indiantown Road will be added by Friday.

“We want to emphasize that the current traffic pattern is a temporary phase and will be changed next week,” said FDOT consultant Thomas Emerson.

FDOT's Thomas Emerson says they will accelerate their efforts. — FDOT’s Thomas Emerson says they will accelerate their efforts.

They plan to close the I-95 ramp in Jupiter on Sunday as an additional lane will be added off the ramp. A fourth eastbound lane on Indiantown Road by January 2025.

“I just don’t feel good about it, I don’t feel like it’s the right approach,” said council member Andy Fore.

It’s a task council members and residents want to expedite. Some say their 10-minute commutes have now become hour-long commutes.

“Why did they insist on having a traffic light when the city council members who have an engineering background were saying it’s not going to help, it’s going to make the situation worse,” Reelitz said.

FDOT officials say they manually control the traffic lights, but some residents have other suggestions.

Shannon Chaplin of Jupiter Farms wants the new traffic light removed.

“I wish this light would disappear. Yes, because it’s not, it does more harm than good in my opinion,” said Jupiter Farms resident Shannon Chaplin. “Unless there’s a better solution, but This light, since it came on, has been like a nightmare for everyone.”

The $18 million project is expected to be completed by summer 2025.

Read below for more about WPTV’s coverage of the issue: