Question about traffic (Orlando, Palm Bay, Melbourne: school, living in, moving to)

[70dustpan]

Hey everybody,

I'm going to be moving to Brevard County in the next year and I'm just trying to get some idea of how bad the traffic is on I95.
I'm considering living in Viera or Rockledge and I'll be working down in Melbourne.
Can someone tell me which direction is congested on the highway at what times during the day? I.e. southbound is heavy in the morning, etc.
Also how long would that commute take during normal business hours 8-5?

Thanks.

[chopchop0]

The exit around Viera (Wickham Rd) can get pretty busy during the work week at commuting times. I notice it to be especially heavy on fridays around 4-6 PM in both directions, but especially going north towards Viera.

[budlight]

I live in Palm Bay and work in Rockledge, so I make that commute everyday Monday thru Friday(8-5). It doesn't seem that bad. I leave at 7 and get to work a little before 7:45. If you leave later than 7:30 you are going to see heavier traffic. After 5 the traffic is heavy but not too bad.

[annagurl333]

The heaviest traffic on the interstate usually revolves going into Melbourne in the morning, and away from Melb. after work. From Viera/Rockledge, it will be heaviest going southwards in the morning, and going northwards in the evening. I agree with Chopchop; Viera exit is getting more traffic through every year, and it can get gnarly. There is also a sizeable community that commutes northward to Orlando everyday.

Your commute time will really depend on how close you live to a I95 ramp, whether Viera or Rockledge. Even during high traffic, if you live close to the ramp at either city, and commute to Melbourne, say around the airport, it shouldn't take more than 20 minutes from Viera, and 25 from Rockledge when you leave your house. Add probably about 5 more minutes than those to get home, as there is a slight increase to afternoon commute traffic. The farther from the ramps you live, just add on the commute time from there. Some places in Rockledge take a fair amount of time to get to I95.

Furthermore, if you live close to US-1, it isn't a bad drive southward towards work, getting slightly more hairy going home. I used to commute this way, and it is a scenic nice drive! It may add 3 – 5 minutes to your journey, but it saves a surprising amount of gas accumulated weekly, and there isn't quite the crazy “I need to get to work...NOW!” mentality on the roads, imo.

If your from a larger city, even Orlando, the commute will seem a breeze. Even in “traffic” you'll be smiling. The only time you get real “traffic congestion” is when there is an accident on I95. It will eventually happen at least once on your commute, and when it does, sometimes they close all lanes down one way for an hour or more. More than once I've sat there for over an hour, turned off my car, and caught up on schoolwork waiting. If there happens to be an accident on US1, you can simply find a side road to take to go around the accident.

Unless you are determined to have a 5 minute commute to work, it isn't a bad commute at all, especially from Viera.

[TN Tin Man]

I-95 over the next several years will be 4 & 6 lanes wide both North & South bound. It use to be Margareta Ville. The 528 ~ I-95.. Beach Line which was the Bee Line is and all ways be a choke point. At least it's not a toll road like it was years ago. .10 cent -- .25 cent as was the Pineda Causeway.