St. Armands project will enhance beauty, safety

St. Armands Circle is scheduled for an update that could enhance the appearance of the district while improving safety.

The St. Armands Capital Improvement Project is scheduled to begin July 1, according to Diana Corrigan, executive director of the St. Armands Circle Association. The project will install sidewalks along grassy medians, which will allow drivers to exit their cars and walk down the center of the median to the pedestrian crosswalks near the center of the Circle. The feature addresses concerns expressed at traffic workshops about pedestrians exiting their vehicles and jaywalking, creating potential hazards.

The project will also add seating in the center of each median, along with Florida-friendly shade trees. The medians of each quadrant will have a different theme.

The project is estimated to cost $450,000 and has been in the works for more than a year through a partnership between the city of Sarasota and the St. Armands Business Improvement District (BID).

Corrigan expressed optimism about the planned project.

“Both for beauty and for safety, it’s going to be a fabulous thing,” she said.

The project is scheduled for completion in November. According to Corrigan, construction related to the project is expected to result in minimal disruptions.

Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].