FDOT presents plans for Longboat's roadway

Repaving, new turn lanes, new sidewalks, street widening, new curbs and gutters, drainage improvements, new guard and bridge rails and new signs.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hosted an open house for the Gulf of Mexico Drive roadway construction project Tuesday, April 14, at Town Hall that included all of the above future projects planned for the town’s main thoroughfare.

The construction projects will begin as far south as Bird Key Drive and continue through St. Armands Circle, all the way to the north end of Gulf of Mexico Drive at Longboat Pass Bridge.

Residents, concerned motorists and business owners were encouraged to attend the two-hour open house, where FDOT officials were available to answer questions regarding the impacts to properties, lane-closure schedules and other issues relating to the projects.

Here's a list of the 10 beautification projects and when they are scheduled to begin:

1. Resurfacing from Sarasota County Line to Longboat Pass Bridge
Estimated start date: April 2009
Estimated end date: July 2009

2. Resurfacing from Bird Key Drive to Ken Thompson Parkway
Estimated start date: May 2009
Estimated end date: Sept. 2009

3. Bicycle path (sidewalk gaps) from New Pass Bridge to Longboat Pass Bridge
Estimated start date: May 2009
Estimated end date: Sept. 2009

4. Add right turn lane(s) at various locations
Estimated start date: May 2009
Estimated end date: Sept. 2009

5. Resurfacing from Harbourside Drive to Manatee County line
*Letting date: May 2010
Estimated start date: To be determined

6. Resurfacing from Longboat Pass Bridge to south of Cortez Road
*Letting date: Feb. 2010
Estimated start date: To be determined

7. Resurfacing from Cortez Road to State Road 64 (Manatee Avenue)
*Letting date: Feb. 2010
Estimated start date: To be determined

8. Resurfacing from Longboat Key Club to Harbourside Drive
*Letting date: May 2010
Estimated start date: To be determined

9. Add right turn lane(s) from west of Sunset Drive to west of U.S. 41
*Letting date: July 2010 (preliminary)
Estimated start date: To be determined

10. S.R. 684 (Cortez Road): Add sidewalk from Cortez Bridge to S.R. 789 on the north side and add sidewalk from S.R. 684 to Second Street N. on the west side
*Letting date: Fiscal year 2009-10
Estimated start date: To be determined