- April 25, 2024
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APRIL FOOLS — The intersection of Beach Road and Midnight Pass has been a target for the Florida Department of Transportation, based on the number of accidents and traffic back-up at the signal. At a public meeting in March, FDOT representatives showed residents two possible options: removing the free-flow right turn lanes or installing a three-way roundabout.
However, based on comments from several public meetings and more than 300 letters of disapproval, FDOT is considering a new alternative: an overpass connected to the Stickney Point bridge to be used only by Siesta Key residents.
At a public meeting April 1, FDOT representatives revealed plans for an express overpass that would be added to the bridge.
Renderings of the potential two-lane overpass show it extending over the Intracoastal Waterway from Old Stickney Point Road to a branch of Stickney Point Road, from the Boatyard Bar and Grill to Siesta Key Marina.
An FDOT official said the 1,056-foot overpass will cost an estimated $12 million to construct; the projected completion date is March 2017.
FDOT explained that the overpass would be restricted to residents using a transponder that is placed inside the vehicle — the same concept as a SunPass — that would be scanned electronically as the driver crosses onto the overpass. The system, tentatively called Siesta Key Identification for Resident Transit (SKIRT), would cost $500 per pass annually. For the first five years of operation, the SKIRT will also charge users a $4.50 toll per trip to help fund the overpass cost and its maintenance.
However, some at the meeting were concerned — would part-time residents be able to obtain a SKIRT pass, and could they get it at a discounted price?
FDOT assured the audience that anyone living on Siesta Key could qualify for the program as long as they provided proof of residency, including a frequent diner card at a local restaurant.
Sarasota County commissioners also discussed the possibility of building an identical overpass at the North Siesta Key Bridge.
“It’s not fair for those folks living on the north end of the Key not to have a similar opportunity,” said one commissioner.
The overpass would have to be raised for boats, and officials predicted connecting the overpass to Stickney Point bridge’s hydraulic lift system could take up to six months.
“We’re hoping to keep at least one lane open each way on the bridge,” an engineer said. “This is a big undertaking. We don’t want to risk compromising the whole system.”
The plan brought a mix of outrage and excitement from Siesta Key residents.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea — it’s about time residents have the top priority,” said Mark Smith, vice president of Siesta Key Village Association. “It should get folks back to their homes faster, and you’ll have a better view of the bay as you drive over.”
Others, however, especially boat owners, were concerned with the potential navigation issues with the overpass.
“As long as it does not impede boat traffic, I think it will help with the congestion on Siesta Key,” said Peter van Roekens, who is a member of the Sarasota Yachting Association. “But FDOT needs to really study the effect on the boating community.”
Van Roekens said he also hoped FDOT had spoken with the U.S. Coast Guard, which controls the timing for the bridge openings, to make sure the overpass would not cause any additional delays.
The county also discussed constructing a similar overpass from Siesta Drive to the county-owned Bay Island Park. Staff said landing the overpass in the city side of Bay Island Park would provide an easier bypass for residents, who could then drive up Norsota Way to Higel Avenue. However, the city refused to negotiate with the county staff.
Hopefully you made it to the end of the article, so we can say, Happy April Fools' Day! This story is not true.
