Week of Oct. 6-12, 2008

The following is a summary of Sarasota County construction, repair and maintenance projects that are expected to have an impact on local traffic. This summary includes all road or lane closures approved by the county engineer.

For more information about county construction projects and road and lane closures, call the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000. At this site, you also can find the current status of state roadway projects in Sarasota County in the weekly RoadWatch Update issued by the Florida Department of Transportation.
 

Swift and Proctor road intersection, Sarasota: Construction continues on the intersection of Swift and Proctor roads. During construction, there will be lane closures from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and periodic night lane closures for the installation of new signals. The intersection improvements include the extension of the left turn lanes on Swift Road and new signal poles. The project is targeted for substantial completion in early November.

Fruitville Road, Sarasota (west of McIntosh Road to east of Cattlemen Road):  Construction continues this week for the installation of streetlights on Fruitville Road from west of McIntosh Road to east of Cattlemen Road. Punch list items being done this week are expected to have little or no impact on traffic. The project is anticipated to be finished by late January 2009.

Spencer Avenue, Laurel: Work continues this week on installing guardrail and handrail, along with placement of asphalt, as part of the Spencer Avenue extension project. Spencer Avenue, which now begins at U.S. 41 and ends at Valencia Street, is being extended to Church Street, a distance of 609 feet. The extension will include two 11-foot-wide travel lanes, 2-foot-wide shoulders and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the south side. Other improvements include a water main extension along the north side of Spencer Avenue from Valencia to Church streets, and open drainage ditches on both sides of the roadway with stormwater treatment in the ditches. The project is targeted for completion in November.

Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota (from Cattlemen to McIntosh roads): The Bahia Vista improvement project is substantially complete. All lanes are now open to traffic. However, there may be some temporary lane closures this week for minor roadway work and punch list items.  Excavation of the last pond is under way. There will be trucks entering and leaving the roadway until this pond is completed. All the remaining work is expected to be completed by Oct. 30. Motorists are encouraged to exercise caution when driving through the area.

 U.S. 41 and Sorrento area, Nokomis: Construction continues this week on the U.S. 41 lift station #25 project. No lanes are expected to be closed, but motorists should exercise caution as trucks enter and exit the highway from Giotto Drive to Bay Street to the north. This project will increase capacity and reliability of wastewater service. It also will eliminate the existing pump station and replace it with a state-of-the-art master pumping facility. Project completion is expected in January 2009.

Little Five Points (Herald Square), Sarasota: Construction crews will continue working this week in the following areas on the Little Five Points (Herald Square) stormwater improvements: Oak Street between Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue is a two-way street. Due to two-way traffic, no parking on Oak Street between Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue will be allowed. Oak Street will be closed at Pineapple Avenue. Residents and merchants can use Oak Street from Palm Avenue. Motorists traveling southbound on Pineapple will be detoured onto Laurel Street to Orange Avenue southbound. Businesses in the area can still be accessed from Pineapple Avenue.  

All businesses will be open in the Burns Court and Herald Square area. Business signs are posted to direct patrons to area businesses.

Motorists should follow posted detours and use caution when traveling in these areas. Signs, barricades and flagmen will be present as needed. Construction of the entire project is expected to be completed in November.

Webber Street, Sarasota (Java Plum Avenue to McIntosh Road): Punch list items will be worked on throughout the project area for the next several weeks. Construction signs and flagmen will be present when required. The work is part of the Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program Area K project and sidewalk and safety improvements. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained at all times. Construction is expected to be finished in October 2008.

Webber Street, Sarasota (McIntosh Road to Huntington Avenue): Mainline installation will continue this week in the Old Forest Lakes subdivision. Affected roads will include East Forest Lakes Drive, East Forest Lakes Drive Circle and Twilight Place. Pit installation will take place this week on Pony Lane and East Forest Lakes Drive. Streets reduced to one lane will have flagmen present. The construction is part of the Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program Area K project and sidewalk and safety improvements. Access to properties and businesses will be maintained at all times. Specific road and lane closures will be posted at this site weekly. Construction is expected to be finished in June 2009.

Nokomis area: Crews this week will be working in the following areas as part of the Nokomis Water Line project:

• 3C-West (area is North of Colonia Lane between Riverview Drive and River Boulevard and north to Lucile Avenue) Crews will be off the roadway.
• 3C-North (area is north of Lucile Avenue to Dona Way and Portia Street west to Valencia Street; also includes Oak Tree Lane) Crews will be off  the roadway. 
• 3C-East (area is from Albee Farm Road east to Irene Street and between Colonia Lane to Kilpatrick Road) Survey and restoration crews will be working in the entire area.  
• 3D (area is from Citrus Avenue south to Magnolia Avenue off U.S. 41 to the east) Valve and Service crews will be working on Spencer Avenue, King Street, Tangerine Street, Hamilton Street and Valencia Street. Valve and service crews also will be working in the area of Palmetto Road, Shell Drive and Magnolia Avenue, all east of U.S. 41. Valve and service crews also will be working on the west side of U.S. 41 from Sago Lane south to Esti Drive on Avenida La Palma, Avenida De Bahia and Avenida De La Isla.
• U.S. 41 (area is on the east side of U.S. 41 from Magnolia Avenue going north to Albee Rd) Pipe and valve crews will be working in the state right of way on this stretch of U.S. 41 in the existing construction zone of Hubbard Construction this week.

Motorists should use caution when traveling in these areas. Signs, barricades and flagmen will be present as needed to maintain two-way traffic through the area. Construction in these areas is expected to be completed in fall 2008. Other areas are targeted for completion in early 2009.

Siesta Key Village beautification, Siesta Key: Major work for Phase 1 of the project to bury overhead utility lines on Ocean Boulevard within the village is complete. Poles and wires will be removed once all remaining buildings have converted to underground service connections.

Construction of Phase 2 is under way. Phase 2 includes brick sidewalks, intersection medallions, decorative lighting and street signs, an information gazebo and resurfacing of Ocean Boulevard and associated side streets. Lane closures are expected this week at the following locations: Ocean Boulevard (Beach Road) from Tenacity Lane to Calle Miramar, Ocean Boulevard at Calle Miramar, and Avenida Milano between Ocean Boulevard and Calle Minorga. To bypass areas of active construction, northbound traffic will be detoured where necessary from Ocean Boulevard (Beach Road) to Calle de la Siesta, then Canal Road. Westbound traffic on Avenida Milano will be detoured to Calle Minorga, then Avenida Madera. Portions of sidewalk where construction is active may be temporarily closed to pedestrians during this time. The public beach access located at Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road will be closed during this time. Alternate walking routes are established to maintain pedestrian traffic in areas of closed sidewalks. All business entrances will remain accessible. Construction of Phase 2 is segmented to minimize disruption to the entire village area. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to last seven months.