Overpass connecting Lakewood Ranch, UTC awaits state approval

Sarasota County officials said the Interstate 75 overpass, bridging University Town Center with Waterside of Lakewood Ranch, will be one big step closer to breaking ground once the Project Development and Environment study is completed by June. 

The study — the Multimodal North Sarasota Connector — is being reviewed and awaiting approval from the Florida Department of Transportation and Florida Highway Administration. 

The connector is expected to relieve traffic in the diverging diamond interchange at University Parkway and I-75 and the diamond interchange planned for Fruitville Road and I-75. 

The overpass also will help ease movement between locations including Nathan Benderson Park, the Mall at University Town Center and Waterside Place, according to Ken Stokes, an Infrastructure Coordination Program Manager.

The connector also will serve pedestrians and cyclists. 

After the Sarasota County Commission held a public hearing in August, the commissioners approved the route for the connector. The route crosses between Lakewood Ranch Boulevard and Cattleman Road, just north of the Sarasota County water tower. 

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is funding a public and private partnership involved with the project at the Project Development and Environment study and design stages. 

Stokes said the project is approaching 90% completion on the design plans and permitting. 

The design stage breaks down a project’s facets, including estimating the components needed to complete the project such as the number of guard rails, retaining walls, roadway and bridge support structure and substructure. 

Once the design phase is complete, the county will work on obtaining right of way and construction funding. 

The project is estimated to cost about $30 million and is eligible for federal, state and local funding. Stokes said county and private partners will begin securing funding this year. 

Stokes said construction could begin in 2025 as long as the county receives approval on the Project Development and Environment study and all funding is secured. 

If construction begins in 2025, the project is anticipated to be complete in 2027.