Week of Sept. 6-12, 2010

The following is a summary of Sarasota County construction, repair and maintenance projects that are expected to have an impact on local traffic during the one-week period beginning on Mondays and continuing through Sundays. 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, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000. At this site, you also can find the current status of state roadway projects in District 1, which includes Sarasota County, in the weekly RoadWatch Update issued by the Florida Department of Transportation.

Central Avenue Bridge replacement, Sarasota: The Central Avenue Bridge at Whitaker Bayou is closed for construction between 39th and 40th streets. It is scheduled to remain closed through most of December. The functionally obsolete bridge is being replaced with a wider bridge that will have 11-foot-wide travel lanes with 4-foot-wide paved shoulders and bike lanes on both sides of the bridge and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of the bridge. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are advised to use caution while traveling through the area and follow the posted detours.

Roundabout at the intersection of Venice Avenue and Jacaranda Boulevard, Venice: Construction of a roundabout and other improvements at the intersection of Venice Avenue and Jacaranda Boulevard is under way. Beginning Tuesday, Sept. 7, there will be a new traffic pattern with one lane in each direction on Jacaranda Boulevard and Venice Avenue. The new traffic pattern will remain in place during the installation of storm drain pipes, utility relocations and construction of the new roadway. Motorists should use caution when construction vehicles are present. Flagmen may be on duty in the work zone. The roundabout is intended to improve traffic flow and ease congestion at this intersection. This project includes a center landscaped island, streetlight upgrades, closed drainage, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, curbed medians, pedestrian crossings and stormwater facilities. Work is expected to be complete in the spring of 2011.

Myrtle Street Bridge replacement, Sarasota: The Myrtle Street Bridge is closed between U.S. 301 and N. Osprey Avenue. It is scheduled to remain closed through Saturday, Sept. 25. The functionally obsolete bridge is being replaced with a wider bridge that will have 11-foot-wide travel lanes, 4-foot-wide bicycle lanes and 6-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the bridge. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are advised to use caution while traveling through the area and follow the posted detours.

Fruitville Road from Coburn to Debrecen roads, Sarasota: Work on Fruitville Road from Coburn Road to Jacobs Lane continues this week with roadway striping, construction of brick crosswalks at various intersections and median work. Landscaping work continues this week from Jacobs Lane to Debrecen Road.

On Friday, eastbound traffic will be shifted slightly to the south onto the newly constructed roadway to make a continuous eastbound roadway from west of Coburn Road throughout the entire project limits to Debrecen Road. Westbound traffic is shifted slightly to the south, just west of Jacobs Lane, all the way to Coburn Road, where westbound traffic shifts north onto the existing roadway. Motorists are urged to use extra caution with the new traffic pattern.

Otherwise, two lanes of traffic will be maintained at all times on Fruitville Road, with equipment and personnel working on the road shoulder areas. Motorists are reminded to use caution throughout the work zone because there will be periodic traffic shifts, slowdowns and stoppages due to heavy equipment and materials crossing and offloading along Fruitville Road. The construction posted speed limit is 35 mph in the work zone for the safety of the workers and the traveling public.

This project includes the construction of four 11-foot-wide travel lanes, 4-foot-wide bicycle lanes and 10-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of the roadway. In addition, there will be roadway lighting, medians, concrete curbs and gutters, stormwater pipes, inlet structures, landscaping, stormwater ponds and a water supply pipe. The project is expected to be complete in early 2011.

Palmer Boulevard area, Sarasota: Palmer Boulevard is now open to traffic, as construction proceeds on the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility improvement and expansion project. Most of the heavy earthmoving operations and drainage, water and sewer work in the Apex Road/Palmer Boulevard intersection have been completed. However, some heavy equipment operations off the roadway will continue, so motorists should use caution while traveling through the Apex Road/Palmer Boulevard intersection.

In addition, the sidewalk along the west side of Raymond Road from Palmer Boulevard south to the Raymond Road wooden bridge is closed due to construction operations. The sidewalk along the north side of Palmer Boulevard from Center Road to the gazebo is also closed due to off-road equipment traffic. Large off-road dump trucks will be crossing Palmer Boulevard, north and south, moving to and from the Observation Mound area located on the northwest side of the Palmer Boulevard and Center Road/Raymond Road intersection. Pedestrians will need to use another route in this area. Construction equipment and trucks also will be moving in and out of the Celery Fields on the northwest side of the Raymond Road wooden bridge. The project is expected to be completed in late fall 2010.

Raymond Road Bridge, Sarasota: Work is under way on replacement of the Raymond Road Bridge and other improvements on Raymond Road between Palmer Boulevard and Porter Road. The old single-lane wooden bridge is now removed. Raymond Road is now closed to vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic while the new, two-lane concrete bridge is under construction. The project also includes the widening of Raymond Road, new drainage structures and new sidewalks that will connect the existing sidewalk on the south side of the bridge to the Celery Fields project’s future sidewalks on the north side. The bridge and other improvements are expected to be complete in early 2011.

Honore Avenue from Bee Ridge Road to Fruitville Road, Sarasota: Construction continues this week on all phases of the Honore Avenue improvement project from Bee Ridge to Fruitville roads. Honore Avenue will remain closed from Palmer Boulevard south to Bahia Vista Street until Monday, Nov. 1; it is open to local traffic only. Crews are working on the substructure of the bridge over Phillippi Creek. Crews also will continue to work on the installation of utilities and construction of Honore Avenue for Phases I and II. The entire project will result in a new 3-mile-long, two-lane divided road with roundabouts, bicycle lanes, decorative streetlights, Florida-friendly landscaping and rain gardens to treat stormwater runoff. Construction will be done in three phases and is scheduled to be completed in July 2011.

Honore Avenue from south of Aviano Lane to State Road 681: Construction continues this week on the Honore Avenue improvement project from south of Aviano Lane to State Road 681. Most of the work being performed is in the vacant land parallel to Interstate 75. A right turn lane will be constructed on State Road 681, west of Interstate 75. Motorists should use caution when construction vehicles are present. Crews are constructing the drainage system and roadway. The waterline construction is mostly completed. The entire project will result in a new 2.5-mile-long, two-lane divided road within a four-lane right of way, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, a closed drainage system and a southbound right-turn lane from State Road 681 to Honore Avenue. Construction is scheduled to be completed in December 2010.

Honore Avenue south of State Road 681, Sarasota: Construction continues this week on the Honore Avenue improvement project from south of State Road 681 to a termination point about 1.2 miles further south. The work being performed is entirely in the vacant land parallel to Interstate 75 and no traffic impact is expected. Crews are constructing the drainage system and roadway. The entire project will result in a new 1.2-mile-long, two-lane divided road within a four-lane right of way, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and a closed drainage system. The project will not be tied in to State Road 681, but occasional construction traffic will enter State Road 681, just east of Interstate 75. Construction is scheduled to be completed in April 2011.

Road resurfacing in Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program, Area K, Sarasota: Milling and resurfacing of roads in Area K will be under way this week from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The first area slated for resurfacing is bordered by Linwood Street to the north, Webber Street to the south, Vinson Avenue to the east and Teal Avenue to the west. One lane of roads being resurfaced will be closed while work is under way. The entire Area K resurfacing project is expected to be completed in November.

Sewer work in Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program, Area N - Phase I, Swift Road west to Phillippi Creek, Sarasota: This week, vacuum sewer main installation will take place on Foremere Place and Marlette Street. Valve pit installation is scheduled on Alhambra Avenue and Monterey Street. Motorists are urged to use caution in these areas because heavy equipment and large trucks will be in and out of these roads and surrounding streets. Access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times and flagmen will be present when required. The contractor will leave door hangers on affected homes a few days in advance of scheduled construction.

Other closures

Blind Pass Park, Englewood: Work will begin this week to grade and restore drainage swales, retention areas and parking areas at Blind Pass Park in Englewood. Some parking areas and access drives will be closed during construction. The project is expected to be completed in October.

Alligator Creek boardwalk, Venice: Work continues this week on the replacement of 300 feet of boardwalk near Alligator Creek, just east of Venice East Boulevard, south of Indian Hills Boulevard. The boardwalk will be closed to pedestrians during construction. The project is expected to be completed in November 2010.

Caspersen Beach Park boardwalk, Venice: Construction of a new boardwalk and other amenities at Caspersen Beach Park in Venice is under way. The boardwalk will be replaced in phases over a six-month period. At least two access points to the parking lot will remain open during construction. Other improvements include expanding the north parking area, relocating the north shower station closer to the road, removing a portion of the southernmost boardwalk section and upgrading the entire boardwalk system similar to recently completed boardwalks at other beaches in the county.

State projects

Interstate 75 (I-75) north of River Road to north of State Road 681: Work is under way to widen I-75 north of River Road to north of State Road 681 and make other improvements. Lane closures will occur from 8 p.m.-5 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday, Sept. 7-11. The speed limit is reduced to 60 mph during lane closures, and speeding fines are doubled when workers are present. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2012.

U.S. 301 from Wood to Myrtle streets, Sarasota: Weather permitting, the intersection of Main Street and U.S. 301 will be closed from 10 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 8, for installation of a lighting conduit. The outside lane of northbound U.S. 301 approaching Main Street and the left turn on U.S. 301 southbound approaching Main Street also will be closed. Motorists will experience intermittent lane closures this week at different points in both directions along U.S. 301 between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and 12th streets for demolition of the old U.S. 301 southbound travel lanes, and along U.S. 301 in both directions between Wood and 12th streets for concrete work. The lane closures will occur Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 7-10, from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day. The speed limit through the construction zone is 35 mph.

U.S. 301 from Myrtle Street to DeSoto Road, Sarasota: No lane closures on U.S. 301 are planned Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 7-12. However, motorists entering and exiting Northgate Boulevard at U.S. 301 may experience delays after 7 p.m. several days this week for the installation of drain pipes under Northgate Boulevard.