Week of Sept. 8-14, 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 started in August 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 late November.

Pinecraft neighborhood, Sarasota: Resurfacing of various roads in the Pinecraft neighborhood is under way. All the affected roads are included in Area C of the Phillippi Creek Septic System Replacement Program. Motorists are advised to expect lane closures and possible delays. Traffic may be limited to one lane during the day. The work is expected to be completed by the end of September.

North Sarasota: Resurfacing of Conservatory Drive, Longwood Run Boulevard and Desoto Road from U.S. 301 to Longwood Run Boulevard is under way. Motorists are advised to expect lane closures and possible delays. Traffic may be limited to one lane during the day. The work is expected to be finished by the end of September.

Fruitville Road, Sarasota (west of McIntosh Road to east of Cattlemen Road): Construction for the installation of streetlights on Fruitville Road from west of McIntosh to east of Cattlemen roads is under way. The initial work, including utility locates and directional boring, is expected to have little or no impact on traffic. The project is anticipated to be finished by late January 2009.

Jacaranda Boulevard, Venice (from U.S. 41 east to Center Road): Temporary lane closures are expected this week on Jacaranda Boulevard from U.S. 41 east to Center Road while work is under way in the medians. The work is scheduled to be completed in September.

Spencer Avenue, Laurel: Work continues this week on installation of the new drainage structures as part of the Spencer Avenue extension project. Construction of pavement is under way, with compaction of soil and placement of a roadway base and asphalt. Spencer Avenue, which now begins at U.S. 41 and ends at Valencia Street, will be 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 reached substantial completion on Aug. 9. All lanes are now open to traffic. Final work on punch list items and median planting will continue through Sept. 19. There will be occasional lane closures to do this work. The last pond is being excavated opposite Keely Lane; there will be additional trucks traffic entering and leaving the roadway until this is completed. 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 this week are performing road restoration on Pineapple Avenue between Oak Street and Orange Street into the intersection with Orange Street, as part of the Little Five Points (Herald Square) stormwater improvements. Pineapple Avenue is closed between Oak Street and Orange Street. Southbound traffic on Pineapple Avenue will be detoured right onto Oak Street, left on Palm Avenue, then left on Alderman Street back to Orange Avenue. Southbound Orange Avenue also will be closed at Oak Street. Southbound traffic will be detoured left onto Oak Street and can turn right on Rawls Avenue to return to southbound Orange Avenue. This detour is expected to remain until approximately Sept. 10, weather permitting.

On Sept. 9 or 10, the current detour mentioned above will be modified. Oak Street between Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue will become 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): Construction on McIntosh Road south of Webber Street will continue this week, along with road widening from Teal Avenue to McIntosh Road. Sidewalk and curb construction will take place at various locations. Lane shifts will take place on McIntosh Road from McIntosh Lane to Brooksdale Drive. Construction on McIntosh Road should be complete by the end of the week or early in the week of Sept. 15. 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. Specific road and lane closures will be posted at this site weekly. Construction is expected to be finished in October 2008.

Webber Street, Sarasota (McIntosh Road to Huntington Avenue): Mainline installation will start in the Old Forest Lakes subdivision this week. Work will start on West Forest Lake Drive at Webber Street and head south. Sewer pit installation will take place this week on Huntington, Ingram and Robinson avenues. Roadside asphalt work and crossing repairs will take place on Webber Place, Forest Knoll Drive, East and West Mark Drive, Purcell Circle and Garriott 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.

East Fruitville Road, Sarasota: Work on punch list items is scheduled to be completed this week on the east Fruitville Road project. Temporary lane closures are expected throughout the project while the work is under way. The speed limit has been raised from 35 mph to the previous 55 mph. The road-widening project covers an area from Hi Hat Ranch to Verna Road, a distance of 4.5 miles. The east Fruitville Road project includes the construction of two 12-foot travel lanes, with 4-foot-wide bicycle lanes and drainage improvements.

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: Final preparations continue this week to finish Phase 1 of the project to bury overhead utility lines on Ocean Boulevard within the village. Florida Power & Light Co. crews are completing final construction activities to energize the undergound system, including coordination of temporary outages for buildings during the transfer. Poles and wires will be removed once all remaining buildings have converted to underground service connections.

Construction of Phase 2 has begun. This phase 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 on Ocean Boulevard at Beach Road from Tenacity Lane to Calle Miramar. Traffic will be detoured where necessary from Ocean Boulevard at Beach Road to Calle de la Siesta, Calle Miramar and Canal Road to bypass areas of active construction. Portions of sidewalk along Ocean Boulevard where construction is active may be temporarily closed to pedestrians during this time. Alternate walking routes will be created to maintain pedestrian traffic in areas of closed sidewalk. All business entrances will remain available for patrons. Construction of Phase 2 will be segmented to minimize disruption to the entire village area. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to last 7 months.