Buccaneer Trail to Get $1.8M Roundabout Makeover

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners has approved construction to build a multi-lane roundabout at one of Amelia Island’s busiest and most congested intersections: Amelia Island Parkway and Buccaneer Trail.

The project is intended to improve safety, relieve peak-hour backups, and modernize the roadway geometry at a junction that has long been a source of concern for residents and commuters.

The intersection is a major gateway for residents, resort traffic, cyclists, and beachgoers, and remains one of the island’s highest-volume locations. County engineering documents show estimated design-year traffic volumes exceeding 19,700 daily trips. The roundabout is designed for a 25-mph operating speed and includes modern crosswalks, splitter islands, and lighting to improve nighttime visibility.

Commissioners approved MAER Construction for a total contract of $1,824,936.

According to the Capital Projects Management Department, the roundabout project includes:

• Embankment work to adjust roadway profile

• Roadside swales, multiple new cross-drain and side-drain installations

• Lime rock base and asphalt pavement

• New pavement markings, signage, and roadway lighting

• Construction of a truck apron, architectural pavers, and shared-use path connections

• Placement of performance turf (sod) and other landscape restoration

The contract establishes a 170-calendar-day construction period after issuance of the Notice to Proceed.

County staff state that the roundabout will “enhance safety and visibility at the intersection and reduce maintenance costs to the Road Department.”

Motorists can expect staged traffic shifts, temporary closures on Buccaneer Trail, and active construction near the existing shared-use path. County officials note that pedestrian and bicycle access must be maintained throughout, per the Traffic Control Plans.