Necessary construction will snarl University Parkway in Lakewood Ranch

The morning started as normal in May 2025 when I pulled off State Road 70 to go south on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

But it only took 100 yards to know I was in trouble.

Traffic was stopped.

Manatee County was in the midst of its rebuilding project of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from State Road 70 to University Parkway. Heavy equipment was all over the place, and I had no hope of covering a couple of miles in under 30 to 40 minutes.

Making everything more frustrating was that I had a doctor's appointment near Lakewood Ranch Medical Center. I had given myself plenty of time, or so I thought, but certainly not that much time.

I called my doctor's office and they told me not to be too concerned because others had called before me with the same problem.

So I sat. And sat. And sat.

I hated every construction worker, and every tractor, and every shovel. I hated the project, and the plan, and the guy in the Volvo next to me. It was that kind of day.

And it all could have been avoided.

I knew the project was ongoing, and I knew that traffic congestion was likely. But I chose to be on automatic pilot and not check the road conditions. The work obviously was needed and the delays were certainly a necessary evil.

Why didn't I just take Interstate 75 for one exit, or go east and cross over on Lorraine Road?

Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.

So, Lakewood Ranch residents, don't be like me now that construction is going to amp up on University Parkway. Have a plan.

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch has given notice that delays should be expected on University Parkway heading east from Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from now and for more than a year. The Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District will be entrenched in infrastructure improvements to support the development of new residential villages along Bourneside Boulevard and the southeast area of Lakewood Ranch.

University Parkway will be widened between Lorraine Road and Bourneside Boulevard and roundabouts will be constructed at key intersections within the project area to improve traffic flow and user safety.

Additional bicycle lanes and pedestrian features are included in the project.

During construction, roads will remain open with changes in traffic patterns. Those changes will be posted several days ahead of the changes.

SMR is suggesting that those who live in villages that border University Parkway with access to Masters Avenue (to the north) should consider using that road to bypass the sections of University Boulevard that will be under construction.

Cannon Street will be an alternate way to access businesses located in the southeast corner of University Parkway and Lorraine Road as construction will make it hard at times to turn into those businesses from University Parkway.

So here is a look at some timelines.

The University Parkway widening project — two lanes to four lanes — has begun and will run from Lorraine Road east to Bourneside Boulevard. Median improvements along this stretch began July 6.

Construction on a roundabout at Covenant Way and University Boulevard will begin late this summer. Construction on a roundabout where University Boulevard intersects with Lake Club Boulevard and Blue Mist Way will begin late this year.

Construction already is underway on a Bourneside Boulevard extension from University Parkway to Fruitville Road. Just a note that the five-mile extension of Bourneside Boulevard to the south will have seven roundabouts. The roundabout at Bourneside Boulevard and University Parkway currently is under construction and is expected to open to traffic in late July.

All the other projects all have a March 2027 completion date.

Motorists also can note that construction on the roundabout at University Parkway where it intersects with Deer Drive and Legacy Boulevard (a bit farther west than the other construction on University Parkway) is expected to start early in 2027.

No doubt, this is going to cause some headaches for those who regularly drive this corridor.

But if you listen to Manatee County Commission candidates, you often hear them say that infrastructure should be in place before you begin selling new neighborhoods. That always has been SMR's strategy and that is why this University Parkway project is going full-speed ahead now.

Obviously, that University Parkway corridor is going to see an increase in traffic once Lakewood Ranch Southeast begins selling late this year. You're going to live with some big headaches now so you don't have constant migraines down the road.

My one-day implosion on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard was a reminder that we need to have a little patience because we are going to be more than pleased with the finished product.

That section of Lakewood Ranch Boulevard is heavenly smooth right now, and hopefully was accomplished in a manner that will assure we aren't hitting craters in the road anytime soon. We had about eight months of pain, which now seems well worth the wait.

The University Parkway project is much the same.

Now you might not like all the roundabouts, but that is another topic for another day.

For now, take that extra step to avoid as much of the congestion as possible. Don't drive head-long into it, when it is unnecessary.

Don't be like Jay.