Sarasota cyclists are switching gears for the new Legacy Trail bridge

The ringing of bells, honking of horns and loud cheers of excitement were all heard above Clark Road.

On Wednesday, July 2, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One, opened the new Legacy Trail bridge over Clark Road, in early celebration for the Fourth of July Holiday. 

A similar overpass crossing Bee Ridge Road to the north opened in June. The completion of the Clark Road span brings to a close the $13.2 million project that began in late 2023.

To celebrate the completion of the overpasses, Friends of Legacy Trail were the first to safely bike over Clark Road.

The overpasses are the trail’s third and fourth such structures, the most recent previous opening was in 2019 over Laurel Road. Another spans Tamiami Trail in Venice. Previously, cyclists, runners and pedestrians had to cross highways with the use of surface crosswalks, which trail advocates complained was unsafe.

Also in the name of user safety, a long-envisioned widening of one of the busiest sections of the trail is moving toward reality. Construction is expected this year on the 1.4-mile first phase of an additional lane from Shade Avenue in Sarasota to Beneva Road, designed to separate those on foot from those on wheels.

In 2018, Sarasota County voters approved a $65 million referendum to extend the trail from the Palmer Ranch area into Downtown Sarasota.

“That referendum passed with over 70% of the voters approving it. So voters decided to tax themselves. Partnering with FDOT, they came forward and raised additional money for the construction of these bridges.” said Louis Kosiba, President of the Friends of Legacy Trail, while giving his thanks to the taxpayers.

The Legacy Trail is an 18.5-mile paved multi-use recreational trail from Downtown Sarasota to the Historic Venice Train Depot. The trail follows the route used by the former Seaboard Air Line Railroad and later by CSX. Sarasota County and the Trust for Public Land in 2004 to be used for public recreational activities purchased the right of way.

“We can’t have all these people here that want to bike and then all the sudden interact with dangerous vehicles. So these overpasses are why we do that.” said program director for the Trail for Public Land for the Florida Gulf Coast Trail, Charles Hines.