Week of Nov. 17-23, 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.
 

Central Sarasota Parkway, Sarasota: Workers will resurface Central Sarasota Parkway from McIntosh Road to Turtle Rock Boulevard as part of a resurfacing project on five roadways encompassing a total of 17.2 lane miles. Residents and businesses will be notified via door hangers a few days before work begins on their street. The resurfacing project started Nov. 12 and is scheduled to be completed within 120 days.

School Avenue, Sarasota: Through Saturday, Nov. 22, a small section of Grove Street near the School Avenue corridor will be reduced to one lane as work continues on the School Avenue stormwater pipe repair project. While work is under way in that area, the speed limit will be reduced and flagmen will direct traffic. The pipe rehabilitation project uses trenchless technology to help eliminate open trench excavation and minimize disruption to the area. The 2,600-foot-long corroding pipe crosses five intersections, including Siesta Drive and Webber Street, but mostly runs along the School Avenue corridor in the public right of way. The project is expected to be finished in February 2009.

Laurel Road and Knights Trail Road intersection, Venice: Reduced speed limits have been posted in the area of the Laurel Road and Knights Trail intersection, and movement of traffic signage has been installed. The contractor has begun earthwork and construction equipment is on the site. Utility relocation work is under way as well, in preparation for the intersection improvements project. The project includes converting the existing intersection from a two-way stop to a full signalized intersection. The project also calls for adding turning lanes, bicycle lanes and sidewalks. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling in this area since utility companies will have vehicles entering and exiting the roadway frequently, and equipment and crews will be working alongside the roadway. Motorists should look for traffic-flow-impact signage when traveling in this area. Completion is expected in fall 2009.

Swift and Proctor road intersection, Sarasota: Construction is substantially complete on the intersection of Swift and Proctor roads. While construction crews are finishing up the intersection, there may be periodic lane closures from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The project is targeted for final completion by Nov. 26.

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: Punch list items will be worked on this week on the Spencer Avenue extension project. Flagmen will be on hand to direct traffic, if necessary. 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.

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 is substantially complete for the Little Five Points (Herald Square) stormwater improvements. Some punch list items will be done over the next couple of weeks, but no impact on traffic is expected. There will be no more lane or road closures associated with this project.

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 November 2008.

Webber Street, Sarasota (McIntosh Road to Huntington Avenue): Webber Street is reduced to two lanes while mainline and valve pit installation takes place in the two center lanes. Asphalt restoration will continue in the Old Forest Lakes subdivision and on Radnor Place, Asbury Place, Orleans Lane and Ardmore Lane. 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.

• 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 Road) 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 December 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 landscaping, 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 Canal Road; and Calle Miramar at Ocean Boulevard. 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. Active construction will occur on Avenida Milano and Avenida Madera; however, all traffic lanes will remain open on these streets. 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 opened to vehicles 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 six months.