- February 19, 2025
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Residents trying to drive to the downtown post office or the Sarasota County Administration Center will now have an easier time.
The roundabout at Ringing Boulevard and Pine Place has opened for traffic after nearly a year of construction.
The city of Sarasota announced the reopening of the roadway over the weekend on its social media pages. "Please use caution and be on the lookout for workers in the area in the coming days as they put the final touches on the project," the Facebook post says.
The opening of the roundabout was a surprise to many. Although the project was originally scheduled to be finished last month, the city of Sarasota said delays caused by supply chain issues and storm recovery had pushed back the completion date until later this spring.
"Cushion was added to the revised date, and the contractor was able to accelerate the work, including working weekends," city spokeswoman Jan Thornburg told the Observer.
While the streets are open, some work continues, including a new Breeze bus stop and transit shelter designed to accommodate two busses outside of the travel lane.
Construction on the roundabout began April 29, 2024. The Jan. 31 reopening marks the completion of a string of roundabouts along Ringling Boulevard including Palm Avenue, Pineapple Avenue and Orange Avenue.
By the end of this year, the county plans to vacate the administration building as Benderson Development begins plans for a multi-use development on the site.