Traffic Watch for Manatee and Sarasota Counties

Traffic Watch for Manatee and Sarasota Counties

FOR WEEK OF JANUARY 19, 2020

Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution, courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

As a reminder, travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to
learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state.
If you know before you go, you can plan accordingly and save time and money.

MANATEE COUNTY

Various locations along SR 684 and US 301: Construction project: Crews are installing new highway lighting at various locations along SR 684 from Gulf Drive to 9th Street W and on US 301 from Tallevast Road to 9th Street E. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. Expected completion is early 2020. PowerCore, Inc. is the contractor.

I-275 at the Sunshine Skyway Rest Areas in Manatee and Pinellas Counties: Construction project: Improvements include constructing new rest areas and new parking lots with LED lighting, seawall repairs and extending the seawall at the Manatee County rest area to accommodate a new picnic pavilion. The Manatee County rest area is closed for renovations. Motorists should use the Pinellas County rest area during this time. The fishing pier will remain open during the closure; however, there will be intermittent flagging operations along the fishing pier access road in Manatee County for moving of equipment and materials. Expected completion is spring 2020. David Nelson Construction Company is the contractor.

I-275 Southbound Ramp to I-75 Northbound (Exit 228): Construction project: Crews are replacing the concrete bridge deck on the southbound I-275 ramp to northbound I-75. The I-275 southbound ramp to northbound I-75 is open to traffic. Expect nighttime/overnight northbound and southbound intermittent lane closures on I-75 from 9 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. each morning Sunday, January 19 through Saturday, January 25. Expected completion is spring 2020. Cone & Graham, Inc. is the contractor.

I-75 at SR 70 Interchange (Exit 217): Construction project: This week, crews will work on widening I-75, the ramps, retaining walls, noise walls, excavating interchange and SR 70 stormwater ponds and drainage, and working on the bridges over SR 70 and the Braden River.

• Motorists should expect lane closures on I-75 during nighttime/overnight hours from 8:45 p.m. to 6 a.m. (northbound) or 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. (southbound) through the duration of the construction.
• Motorists should expect lane closures on SR 70 during nighttime/overnight hours from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. through the duration of the construction.
• Motorists should expect lane shifts on I-75 and SR 70 through the duration of the construction.
• Drivers should exercise caution and be aware of construction vehicles entering and exiting the interstate through the duration of the construction.

Variable message signs will be in place to alert drivers that work is underway. Estimated completion is late 2021. The contractor is Sacyr Construction USA, LLC.

US 301 (State Road 43) from 2nd Avenue to 51st Avenue: Construction project: Crews are resurfacing the roadway; improving drainage; installing guardrail and highway lighting, and improving the railroad crossing. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and possible daytime lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during construction. Superior Asphalt, Inc. is the contractor. Expected completion is summer 2020.

US 301 (State Road 43) from Moccasin Wallow Road to the Hillsborough County Line: Construction project: Use caution and watch for shoulder closures and crews close to the road as they work on drainage and touch up driveway connections. The improvements under this contract consist of milling and resurfacing, super elevation correction, shoulder reconstruction, turnout construction, drainage improvements, shoulder treatment, signing and pavement markings.

US 301 at State Road 70 and at 51st Avenue E: Maintenance permits project: Expect nighttime/overnight northbound and southbound lane closures from 9 p.m. each night to 5 a.m. each morning Sunday, January 19 through Saturday, January 25 while crews remove and replace sensors in the roadway at two different intersections. Use caution and be prepared to merge.

SR 684/Cortez Road from 123rd Street W to 119th Street W and from 123rd Street W to 86th Street W: Construction project: Crews are realigning the intersection of SR 684/Cortez Road and 119th Street W, resurfacing the roadway, improving drainage, constructing sidewalk and installing new highway lighting. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on SR 684/Cortez Road. Traffic detours/shifts on 119th Street W will be necessary during construction. Additional information concerning those detours and/or shifts will be provided prior to them being implemented. AJAX Paving Industries of Florida, LLC is the contractor. Expected completion is late summer 2020.

SR 70 at Greenbrook Boulevard: Maintenance permits project: Expect nighttime/overnight northbound and southbound lane closures from 9 p.m. each night to 5 a.m. each morning Sunday, January 19 through Saturday, January 25 while crews remove and replace sensors in the roadway at two different intersections. Use caution and be prepared to merge.

SR 64 at Rye Road: Construction project: Crews are constructing a multi-lane roundabout; resurfacing the roadway; improving drainage, and installing new highway lighting and landscaping. Nighttime/overnight lane closures on Rye Road will occur from 8 p.m. each night to 6 a.m. each morning Sunday, January 19 through Saturday, January 25. Traffic has been shifted to the southside of SR 64 with one 10 foot lane in each direction. The speed limit on State Road 64 has been reduced to 25 mph within the construction zone. Traffic on Rye Road has been shifted slightly to allow space for crews to complete drainage work. IBT Construction is the contractor. Expected completion is spring 2020.

SARASOTA COUNTY

I-75 from Exit 182/N. Sumter Boulevard to Exit 191/N. River Road: Construction project: This project replaces sections of guardrail along the interstate. The contractor is Acme Barricades, L.C. Expected completion is early 2020.

US 41 Roundabouts at 10th Street and 14th Street, Sarasota: Construction project: Crews continue work within the right-of-way, medians and driveways.

• Light pole installation is expected along the east side of US 41.
• Curb, sidewalk and asphalt removal expected on the east side of US 41 from 10th Street to 14th Street.
• 12th Street will be closed until mid to late next week for the installation of drainage pipe.
• Roadway base is expected to be graded and compacted. Expect vibration due to compaction efforts along the east side of US 41. Motorists are urged to use caution as trucks will be entering and leaving the work zones within the project limits.
• Sidewalk on the west side of US 41 is now open for public access. Crosswalks are only open at 14th Street and 10th Street. Sidewalks on east side of US 41 are closed for pedestrians and is an active work zone. Detours are setup to follow sidewalks on Cocoanut Avenue.
• Pedestrian crossings on 14th Street/Imperial Drive at US 41 have been reconfigured around the work zone. Pedestrians are advised to use the designated sidewalks and cross walks.
• Pedestrian crosswalks and stop bar on the south bound lanes at 14th Street are marked. For the safety of pedestrians, motorists are urged to stop at the designated stop bar.
• The traffic pattern will be limited to right turn in/out for 11th, 12th and 13th Street. Traveling southbound and northbound direction left turns are not permitted at 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Streets. Motorists are advised to follow the posted signs.
• Southbound traffic will be using the new roadway and north bound traffic is shifted to the west. Be cautious while driving through the transition zones at the south and north ends of the project.
• The project work zone is shifted to the east side of US 41, pay attention to the travel lanes while entering and leaving the businesses or side streets. No left turns permitted within the project limits, except at the boat ramp, which has an exclusive left turn lane for north bound traffic.
• Pedestrian pathways are detoured mostly via Cocoanut Avenue while the west side new sidewalk is being installed. Pedestrians are urged to stay away from construction zones where there is no designated pedestrian access.

Speed limit is reduced to 30 mph. Speeding fines are doubled in the construction area when workers are present.

Improvements being made as part of this project consist of reconstructing the signalized intersections and replacing them with roundabouts, enhancing connectivity, circulation and safety. US 41 will be widened between the two intersections and will include bike lanes as well as dedicated turn lanes, a 10-foot sidewalk along the west side, and a 6-foot sidewalk along the east side. Other improvements include raised islands for pedestrian refuge at the intersections of US 41 at 10th Street and 14th Street, pedestrian signals, LED streetlights, landscaping, and City of Sarasota utility and underground drainage structure replacements. Expected completion is spring 2020. The contractor is IBT Construction LLC.

US 41 (Venice Bypass) from Center Road from to Gulf Coast Boulevard: Construction project: Crews are widening US 41 from Center Road to Gulf Coast Boulevard to a six-lane highway; replacing traffic signals, installing new pavement markings and signage; installing concrete curb, sidewalks; improving new drainage, and installing new highway lighting. Use caution and watch for changes in the traffic pattern. Bergeron Land Development, Inc. is the contractor. Expected completion is spring 2021.

• Seaboard Avenue has been reopened to traffic.
• Crews are working within business driveways and in the right-of-way along the southbound lanes of US 41. Please watch for crews, use caution and follow flagger direction when turning into businesses and shopping plazas.
• A traffic switch has been implemented on US 41 from Center Road to Gulf Coast Boulevard shifting traffic east to the existing southbound lanes and median. Two travel lanes in each direction are maintained throughout the project limits, and the speed limit has been reduced to 40 mph. Please use caution when traveling through the project corridor as the demarcated median has narrowed. Vehicles no longer have median access throughout the project limits.

US 41 from First Street to Boulevard of the Arts, and on Fruitville Road from US 41 to Cocoanut Avenue: Construction project: Crews are constructing a roundabout at US 41 and Fruitville Road, a 12-foot multi-use trail on the west side of US 41 and a variable-width sidewalk on the east side of US 41; replacing existing underground drainage and utility structures, and installing new LED streetlights and landscaping. Other improvements include raised pedestrian refuge islands and a HAWK pedestrian signalization system. Use caution and watch for changes in the traffic pattern. Wright Construction, Inc. is the contractor. Expected completion is fall 2020.

• Beginning Tuesday evening, January 21, through Friday morning, January 24, US 41 may be reduced to a single lane in both directions each night between 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. from North Palm Avenue to Boulevard of the Arts. During this same time period, the westbound left turn lane along Fruitville Road approaching US 41 may be reduced from two lanes to a single left turn lane. The lane reductions are necessary to install new utility lines and stormwater drainage across US 41.
• Please note that a new traffic pattern is in effect. While this traffic shift is in place there will be four lanes along US 41, with two lanes of traffic in each direction and no left turn movements allowed along US 41 in the construction zone. Impacts to lane usage affecting motorists will be as follows:
  • No left turns from northbound US 41 to westbound Boulevard of the Arts (in effect through late January 2020)
    • The traffic in the left-hand northbound lane of US 41 will need to proceed to 10th Street, make a left turn at the 10th Street signal, in order to access Van Wezel, Symphony, Municipal Auditorium, Hyatt, etc. Detour signage is in place. All other movements of traffic at the US 41-Boulevard of the Arts intersection are allowed.
  • No left turns from southbound US 41 to eastbound Fruitville Road (in effect through fall 2020)
    • Southbound motorists, if desiring to go east from US 41, will need to turn left at 10th Street, follow 10th Street to Lemon Avenue, turn right at Lemon Avenue and then follow Lemon Avenue to Fruitville Road. Detour signage is in place. All other movements at the US 41 – Fruitville Road intersection are allowed.
  • The left turn eastbound movement from Gulfstream Avenue to northbound US 41 is reduced to two lanes instead of three lanes (in effect through early March 2020).

US 41 from River Road to Woodmere Park Boulevard: Construction project: Crews are constructing sidewalk and bus shelter pads; installing guardrail and lighting and improving drainage. Motorists should expect daytime lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and nighttime lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. while crews are working. Florida Safety Contractors, Inc. is the contractor. Expected completion is summer 2020.

SR 72 at various locations: Construction project: Crews are installing highway lighting and constructing sidewalk along SR 72 at Frontage Road; Gantt Road; Honore Avenue; McIntosh Road; Sawyer Road; Beneva Road; Lockwood Ridge Road; Swift Road, Gateway Avenue, and at the Sarasota Pavilion entrance. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. and daytime lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Expected completion is early 2020. The contractor is Florida Safety Contractors, Inc.