Longboat repaving projects planned

Some Longboat Key residents will soon catch a whiff of that pungent tar smell as the town prepares to repave several neighborhood roads.

Gulf of Mexico Drive repaving, however, is on the distant horizon.

On Wednesday, repaving work began on General Harris Street, and three other neighborhood streets are soon behind, said Public Works Director Charlie Mopps.

“It’s going to greatly improve that road that’s just falling apart,” he said.

Construction and Facility System Manager Guy Matricciani wrote that the General Harris project cost $72,550 and encompassed the entire street. The repaving is only expected to continue for a few days.

Next in line for repaving on Longboat Key are Royal Road, Cedar Street and Palm Drive.

Cedar Street and Palm Drive, two roads near Whitney Plaza and Broadway Street, will cost $68,100. The two roads will be paved at the same time and are considered a combined project, Public Works Office Manager Julie Anderson said.

Royal Road will cost $37,500, but only half will be repaved as the entrance was paved last year, Matricciani said. Mopps said the project was broken into two segments because there was heavy construction activity in the neighborhood as many homes were being rebuilt.