Beach Road drainage dirt to remain at site

Sarasota County commissioners approved a staff recommendation to store about 10,000 cubic yards of soil southwest of Siesta Key public beach this year during a March 19 meeting.

The Beach Road drainage improvement project will generate roughly 26,000 cubic yards of fill. The county will save $378,000 and 1,340 dump-truck trips by using the stockpile for the Siesta Key public beach enhancements, according to a staff presentation.

Commissioners also approved a request to extend the timeline for a Southwest Florida Water Management District grant to cover $975,000 of the drainage project costs to March 2014. Staff expects construction to be complete by Dec. 31, 2013.