Multiple projects under way this week

Downtown motorists met with confusion last week when they encountered flashing red lights and four-way stop signs at the intersection of Ringling Boulevard and Pineapple Avenue.

Heather Zangara Staine, a human resources and marketing coordinator for Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, at 240 S. Pineapple Ave., called the city’s Public Works Department Nov. 22 to report the traffic light was out. She wrote an email the same day to the city commissioners.

“I am concerned about that light being out of order as that is a congested intersection during peak times and Ringling is multiple lanes wide and not a simple four-way stop,” Zangara Staine wrote. “Is there a reason that the light needs to be off for a week prior to being removed? “

Yes, city staff did have a reason.

Public Works Director Doug Jeffcoat said the traffic signal was purposely put into “flash red” mode and the stop signs were installed to start making the public aware the intersection will be an all-way stop during construction of the Pineapple roundabout.

Plans are moving ahead as well for a roundabout at Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.

The roundabout segments on the south side of Ringling Boulevard will be constructed simultaneously, with through traffic maintained on the north side of Ringling.

Once the work is complete on the south side of Ringling, the project focus will switch to the north side, according to city staff.

The roundabouts’ construction, which began this week and takes place during the daytime, is expected to be finished in the spring. The goal is to improve traffic flow through downtown by replacing a traffic signal and a four-way stop.

Concurrent with the roundabout construction, Fruitville Road will be repaved just north of the downtown area, and landscaping will be improved in its medians.

The Fruitville project is expected to be complete in April.

Unlike the roundabout construction, the Fruitville resurfacing is scheduled from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. All traffic lanes will be open during the morning and afternoon rush hours.

City officials acknowledge the projects are starting at the beginning of season but said the work could not be delayed.

Public Services Manager Mike DelRossi said the projects are being funded primarily through federal dollars; therefore, the city has less control over the timelines.

Still, DelRossi believes the projects may overlap for just a short period of time.

“We’re sensitive to traffic congestion and delays,” DelRossi said. “That’s why several project managers are working together to coordinate the timing of construction and traffic flow as best we can.”

City Manager Bob Bartolotta said city staff felt it was best to move forward with the projects, even if that meant traffic delays in season.

“It was either get the projects done all at once or risk having them delayed even longer,” he said. “City residents have urged us to repave Fruitville Road in downtown for some time, and we thought it best to just move ahead with it.”

Residents with questions about the projects can contact Fruitville Road Repaving Project Manager Bill Nichols, at 365-2200, Ext. 6362, or Ringling Roundabouts Project Manager Neil Gaines, at 365-2200, Ext. 6309.