COCOA, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation is targeting a popular road in the Cocoa area known for a 90-degree curve and plenty of crashes.

FDOT is looking to make changes on Clearlake Road also known as State Road 501. The segment from Industry Road to Michigan Avenue has seen 167 crashes between 2019 and 2023.

What You Need To Know

FDOT is planning to replace a 90-degree curve on Clearlake Road with a roundabout

FDOT found the crash rate on Clearlake Road to be five times greater than the statewide average for similar facilities

The plan also would widen Clearlake Road

According to FDOT documents, 17 homes and two businesses would potentially have to be relocated

FDOT is looking to make changes on Clearlake Road, also known as State Road 501.

The segment from Industry Road to Michigan Avenue has seen 167 crashes between 2019 and 2023.

“I’ve seen a car flip over there coming over the hill,” said Josh Fagan, a mobile mechanic who lives off Clearlake Road. “I’ve seen fender benders and stuff because people don’t want to slow down for people turning into the neighborhoods.”

A big problem spot on Clearlake Road is a 90-degree curve. FDOT found that the 90-degree curve is part of a high crash segment and when crews studied the area, they found the crash rate is nearly five times greater than the statewide average for similar facilities.

Speeding and wet pavement conditions were the primary reasons for crashes.

In 2017, FDOT had planned to redesign the area with a more gradual curve. but from a new 2025 study, the recommendation is to now convert the curve into a roundabout.

“Roundabouts are pretty effective in a lot of areas, but Americans don’t really understand roundabouts as well as they should,” Fagan said. “Until they figure it out, it’s prone to cause more accidents.”

Fagan isn’t thrilled about a roundabout replacement, but he does like another part of the plan, which wiould widen the road, converting Clearlake Road into four lanes.

“If they widen it and give it two lanes on both sides, that’ll definitely make traffic flow better right through there, especially with Walmart and the other businesses there,” Fagan showed us.

But the addition of extra lanes, a roundabout, and required retention ponds, according to FDOT documents, will potentially require 17 homes and two businesses to be relocated.

“I have two neighbors that are going to be affected by it,” Fagan said. “One of my neighbors is, you know, older… what are they to do if they’re effectively moved out of their home?”

No need to move just yet.

With a price tag of $72 million, the project is unfunded.

While Fagan is concerned for his neighbors, he said he’s hopeful the project will have an overall positive impact on his community.

“I think ultimately their goal is to promote safer driving, better traffic flow and just to stimulate the economy in the long haul,” he said.

FDOT estimates that in order to do the improvements, of the $72 million cost, $40.6 million will have to be used for right of way.

As far as the roundabout, FDOT says they can increase intersection capacity up to 50% and reduce the number of serious crashes.