Sarasota OKs Lakewood Ranch Boulevard alignment

The Sarasota County Commission has approved an alignment for the future extension of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

The chosen alignment will take Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from its current endpoint just south of Professional Parkway and continue it southward to Fruitville Road. The route extends the roadway south to Richardson Road, where it veers eastward and then heads south across a drainage area at Coburn Road (on the north side of Fruitville), but then travels east, before heading south to Fruitville. The design would make the roadway connect to Coburn Road south of Fruitville.

Rex Jensen, CEO of Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch, asked for flexibility in design so he can work with affected property owners and consider other design options.

Jensen said he planned to move forward with the project as quickly as possible. Timing for design and construction of the roadway is tied directly approvals related to SMR's Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project to the north.

For a complete story, see the Oct. 16 issue of the East County Observer.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].