FDOT operations center moving to East County

With all of the traffic concerns and growth in East County, it just makes sense for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to have a foothold in this area.

So that’s exactly what Division One of FDOT plans to do.

Construction on a new $19.3 million Manatee Operations Center that combines the FDOT District One maintenance and construction facilities is underway at 13900 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton.

The center’s 78 employees will be relocated there once the building is complete. Those employees will transfer from an outdated center in Sarasota County that’s been deemed unsuitable for renovations, according to Robin Stublen, FDOT communications specialist.

Information provided by Stublen explains the center’s existing Sarasota location has 34 buildings more than 60 years old that do not meet today’s requirements for building and safety codes.

The new center consolidates the current 34 buildings into 10 new buildings and also combines maintenance and construction facilities at one location.

The center works to maintain highways and bridges and construct facilities and roadway projects in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

The new 52,600-square-foot facility will sit on 42 acres owned by FDOT 5 miles east of Interstate 75. Construction should be complete in summer 2016.

The center will include a main office building, auto/truck shop, warehouse, storage areas, a field crew operations building, covered highway equipment storage, a car/truck wash and recycling facility, a radio tower and other amenities.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].