DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – The beach access ramp on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach closed on Monday for the start of a county project to make improvements.
Business owners around the ramp said they’re preparing to take a big hit, though, with constructions starting right at the beginning of the busy summer tourist season.
“I think this isn’t an appropriate time to be blocking down and shutting down the I.S.B. because people need business,” said Emma, a Daytona Beach resident, “It’s great for beachgoers but it’s not so great for the businesses when they make their major money in the summer.”
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Once it’s done there will be new bathrooms, bike parking, landscaping, and crews will move the ‘World’s Most Famous Beach’ sign and add lights.
Volusia County officials said the project is expected to be done by Spring of 2025.
This project is being done in conjunction with FDOT’s East International Speedway Boulevard improvements. The corridor, which is the city’s main gateway to its beachside, is getting a major facelift with landscaping, repaving, new medians and FDOT is widening the sidewalks to also hopefully improve safety.
That project is expected to be done in the fall.
Some businesses said the beach ramp’s closure is adding an extra hit on top of what they’re already facing with this construction.
“We’ve lost our parking here and there,” said Dawn Johnson, a bartender at Spanky’s 33 Tavern.
The business is on the corner of International Speedway Boulevard and A1A.
Johnson said the project will make the area easier on the eyes but said it is taking away their front parking spots with the wide sidewalks taking over.
“It’s going to be a big change. We will lose our front parking which is usually our motorcycle parking. Hopefully, the city lets us keep parking on the side but with the sidewalk coming across, I don’t know if they’ll even be able to park there,” she said.
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