Commission holds workshop on 44th Avenue

At a workshop today, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will be briefed on the status of the 44th Avenue East extension project.  

Once finished, the extension will connect Cortez Road and its nearby beaches in the west to Lakewood Ranch, farther east.

Commissioners received the most detailed update yet on the long-proposed project from the county public works department May 21.

Since then, according to county documents, there have been two changes to the project.

The county awarded a contract for construction of First Street to 19th Street Court East to Woodruff & Sons, Inc. for more than $8 million.

Construction began July 17 and will finish in July of 2015.

Additionally, county staff conducted a pre-application meeting with the U.S. Coast Guard about a potential bridge over the Braden River.

Permitting for a bridge could take more than three years to obtain.

In total, the $112 million 44th Avenue East extension project is still eight to 12 years out from completion.

Contact Josh Siegel at [email protected].