Transforming Ave Maria’s Main Boulevard and Oil Well Road
Oil Well Road is undergoing changes leading into the main Ave Maria community entrance that will not only make daily commutes safer, but also beautify the surroundings. The two projects include improving navigation and enhance native landscape.
First, modern street lighting is being installed to improve safety for both drivers and pedestrians. A total of 24 new lights will brighten Oil Well Road, with 14 lights west of Ave Maria Boulevard and 10 eastbound to Camp Keais Road. These LED fixtures, mounted on 35-foot aluminum poles, will make nighttime driving easier for commuters to find Ave Maria from the main roads. Originally slated for November, Ted Tryka, the district engineer overseeing the project, shared the good news, “The project is ahead of schedule with a projected completion date before the end of summer.” Additionally, two new destination signs have been placed to assist drivers locating Ave Maria’s main entrance.
The second project focuses on beautifying the area near Arthrex Commerce Park with new landscaping. A 30-foot-wide buffer along the road will be enhanced with Buttonwoods, Bottlebrushes, and Bismarck Palms, adding vibrant textures and colors. Curved shrub beds featuring Firebush, Variegated Schefflera, Jasmine, and Muhly Grass will further enrich the area. This landscaping project will transform the north side of the canal berm along Ave Maria Boulevard from Arthrex Commerce Drive to the sod farm entry drive and is expected to be completed by the end of November.
Steve Sammons, senior landscape architect of town developer Barron Collier Companies’ Peninsula Engineering, shared his excitement, “Those plants were chosen for hardiness, ability to fill in together to create a healthy buffer and allow for a variety of textures and colors that will be repeated along the length of the buffer for consistency.”
These projects intend to make the town’s main boulevard and Oil Well Road more navigational and visually appealing, improving daily commutes and enhancing the town’s nature features.