Paving project postponed

The Sarasota County portion of a Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving project didn’t start Monday as expected.

Heavy rainfall from a stalled low-pressure system delayed the start of the project this week. Work should begin on the project more frequently starting tonight.

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

The project, expected to be complete in February 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 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].