Younger proposes north-end sidewalk

Commissioner Phillip Younger is proposing a new sidewalk for the north end of the Key.

In a March 1 e-mail to Public Works Director Juan Florensa, Younger attached a drawing of a Gulf of Mexico Drive north end sidewalk extension north of Broadway on the east side of Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“This is the only section of Longboat Key that does not have a sidewalk on at least one side of GMD, and the extension would provide a continuous, safer path for walkers in this area,” Younger wrote. “Granted, people would have to cross GMD to get from one sidewalk to the other, but they are already doing that, albeit by walking on the flat grassy areas where the extension is suggested, and the crossing point is about midway between two bends in the road, which enhances vehicle and pedestrian visibility.”

Younger, however, believes a better solution would be to extend the recently installed sidewalk on the west side of GMD from the bridge to North Shore Road, all the way to Broadway, but the sharp drop-off where the guardrail begins about halfway between North Shore Road and Broadway would make this more difficult and more expensive.

The sidewalk suggested will be placed on the agenda for the commission's regular workshop at 1 p.m., March 24.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].