Paving project postponed again

The Sarasota County portion of a Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving project has been postponed again.

Heavy rainfall from a stalled low-pressure system delayed the start of the project, which was scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 23.

Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Darren Alfonso said scheduling conflicts will delay the start of the project until at least September. A specific start date has not been announced.

Gulf of Mexico Drive will be resurfaced from the Sarasota-Manatee county line to New Pass Bridge.

The project, now expected to be complete in March 2011, involves removing old asphalt, resurfacing the road, shoulder work, curb and gutter modifications and the addition of new sidewalks, pavement markings and necessary highway signs.

There will be temporary lane closures and nighttime work between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m., Mondays through Fridays. At Longboat Club Road and Bay Isles Parkway, paving operations will be conducted between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

The Manatee County portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive was repaved last summer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].