FDOT commits to minimal impacts

LAKEWOOD RANCH — As the Florida Department of Transportation prepares to start construction on a new interchange at University Parkway and Interstate 75, business owners in Lakewood Ranch have questions about how construction will impact their businesses, as well as an already gridlocked transportation network east of I-75.

FDOT officials have delivered an answer: minimally.

During a Dec. 5 meeting between Lakewood Ranch merchants, FDOT officials and representatives of Manatee County, FDOT’s Kevin Ingle, a design engineer for the double diverging diamond interchange project, said FDOT is committed to minimizing impacts to businesses near the interchange by requiring nighttime work and keeping lanes open.

“The number of lanes open today will remain open during the day,” Ingle said, noting there will be some sporadic, but well-publicized nighttime closures.

Although contractors will work on lanes of the overpass bridges, FDOT will utilize a temporary bridge to keep traffic flowing. Contractors will assemble the bridge in the median and move it using rollers overnight, so they can shift traffic off the existing overpass and keep traffic flowing as usual.

Ingle said the structure will be the largest temporary bridge in FDOT’s inventory.

Virginia Phillips and Al Roach, husband-wife co-owners of 20 Minutes to Fitness, said they worry their clients will not be able to access their business because of construction, but now feel more confident.

“We can get this information to our clients so they are prepared,” Roach said. “I think we have a lot more clarity.”

Co-owner and General Manager Angela Begin agreed.

“I think, like with the mall, everybody was worried with what happens, but it wasn’t as bad as we expected,” Begin said. “Being prepared is key.”

FIFI’s Fine Resale Apparel and Accessories owner expressed similar concerns. She works with 7,000 consigners and employs 24 people.

“Our new motto has to be, ‘Big or small, it’s going to affect us all,’” she said.

FDOT has nearly finished design of the interchange and expects for construction to begin in early summer 2015. The project is the first of its kind in the state of Florida, although more are planned in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

FDOT remains committed to finishing the $82 million project before the 2017 World Rowing Championships, at Nathan Benderson Park.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].