Paving project starts tonight

The Sarasota County portion of a Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving project begins tonight.

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

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

Public Works Director Juan Florensa said the town worked together with FDOT to push back the paving project from May until August so the bulk of a pipeline upsizing project in the area will be complete before paving begins.

There will be temporary lane closures and nighttime work Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. 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].