Traffic solution

Lakewood Ranch developer Schroeder-Manatee has identified a preferred placement for a new bridge across Interstate 75.

SMR President and CEO Rex Jensen is presenting a proposal to Sarasota County to put the I-75 overpass just north of the proposed alignment for the Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension, where it runs east-west before making a sharp turn southward. (See map, left).

The new concept would take traffic across I-75 directly onto Cattlemen Road, where the extension would end with a T-shaped intersection. Vehicles would travel north or south on Cattlemen from that endpoint.

The overpass would connect with Cattlemen Road, north of the southern edge of the lake at Nathan Benderson Park. 

“This is the one we favor,” Jensen said. “There’s still some discussion to occur between us and the county, (Florida Department of Transportation) and the Federal Highway Administration. We still have to (discuss it) at all those (levels).”

Sarasota County officials say the overpass, once constructed, will provide drivers a new east-west connector, providing another alternative to University Parkway or Fruitville Road.

Previous options discussed included an overpass north of the lake, southeast of The Mall at University Town Center, or what was once considered the “no-brainer” design, which would have extended the future Lakewood Ranch Boulevard extension directly across I-75 to run roughly parallel with the south end of the lake at Nathan Benderson Park; that option is not feasible because of existing power lines and congestion with utilities west of I-75, Jensen said. 

Both of those design options, however, would have potentially increased traffic through existing residential areas.

In December, Sarasota County commissioners added the proposed overpass project to the county’s comprehensive plan. SMR has committed to funding $7.5 million toward potential infrastructure improvements associated with the development of its Villages of Lakewood Ranch South project. 

Sarasota County will designate a portion of the $7.5 million toward the design of the overpass, which will make it “shovel ready” and hopefully qualify it for state or federal funding. 

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].