The start of construction on a controversial new Publix at the busy intersection of U.S. 1 and Route 510 in Wabasso, which would serve the northern part of the barrier island, now seems likely to be delayed for at least two more years. Construction was supposed to have begun last year, but the delay appears to have nothing to do with the significant opposition from area residents to a Publix-anchored shopping center that they fear will significantly worsen the already snarled traffic situation. Asked when the Publix supermarket is now supposed to open to cater to the adjacent 270-home Harbor Isle Community, now already almost half occupied, a person staffing the DiVosta sales office for the development said he had no idea. “It’ll be a couple of years, at least,” he said, adding he believed the delay was due to factors on the side of Publix. Publix Supermarkets, for its part, declined to provide any updated information on its construction plans. “We appreciate you reaching out to ask about this location,” said Lindsey Willis, a Publix media relations manager. “I don’t have information to share at this time, but if you want to check back at a later time, that is great.” Also unable to shed any new light on the situation was Ryan Sweeney, Indian River County chief of development, who had previously said the delay was due to final approval from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for signalization – installing a traffic light – at the intersection of 510 and Harbor Isle Way. That intersection provides the entrance to the development and the planned supermarket, along with another entrance to the development off northbound U.S, 1. Sweeney had said last year that all relevant county permits and variances had been granted. FDOT also failed to respond to questions about the status of the plans for installation of the new traffic light, saying any information provided would require “review and approval by FDOT management.” Last week, a contractor’s construction crew was still busy putting the finishing touches on the extension of the new right-hand turn lane into the development off eastbound 510. The crew supervisor said his company had not been told anything about future plans to install a traffic light at the intersection, even though he said he believed a light will be needed because of the additional traffic that will be drawn to the area. “It’s kind of ironic,” he said, “that what we’re doing will all be torn up and redone again in five years when they replace the whole Wabasso bridge across the lagoon.” The 34,000-square-foot Publix supermarket will be the mainstay of what will be called the new Bridge Marketplace adjacent to the DiVosta developer’s Harbor Isle community. The strip mall is also supposed to include a liquor store (likely also a Publix), a bank and a few other commercial establishments, but none of the other possible new tenants has been identified so far. One woman who had recently moved into the development said she liked living there because of the proximity to the Environmental Nature Center further east along 510, and the beach at Wabasso. With another Publix just a couple of miles farther north up U.S. 1, she said she had not missed the planned new supermarket so far. County construction permits for the new Publix were granted despite protests from area residents who note that in season, westbound 510 already sees bumper-to-bumper traffic backed up all the way from A1A to U.S. 1 on weekday afternoons. They ask how the road will be able to handle the increased traffic when the Harbor Isle development is finished and sold out, and when the new shopping center opens.