Paving project date set

The Sarasota County portion of a Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving project has a new start date.

The project is slated to begin Oct. 4, according to new informational signs placed along Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Heavy rainfall from a stalled low-pressure system delayed the start of the project, which was originally scheduled to begin Monday, Aug. 23. Florida Department of Transportation spokesperson Darren Alfonso said scheduling conflicts also delayed the project.

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

The project, now expected to be complete in March/April 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.

There will be temporary lane closures and nighttime work 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 10 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.

Lane closures, according to the signs, are supposed to last until Jan. 17, 2011.

The Manatee County portion of Gulf of Mexico Drive was repaved last summer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].