The Road Report: Fruitville Rd Repaving Progressing

Fruitville Road: From U.S. 301 to U.S. 41: Superior worked Sunday night into Monday morning completing the milling and asphalt base work on left turn lanes and crossovers, both east and westbound from U.S. 301 through Central Avenue. Monday evening into Tuesday morning, they will finish Central and then tie in to U.S. 41; start milling and paving the turnouts for the side street approaches in the East bound direction, on the south side of Fruitville, working from 41 toward 301.

They are planning on the south side to be completed in one night, they will then do the same milling and paving of the base from 301 to 41 on the north side of Fruitville and anticipate having all of the base work completed during the Tuesday night through Wednesday morning shift.

 along the repaving area may be temporarily interrupted in the evening. Visit www.scgov.net for more details for schedule information.

Crews will return in January to install new landscaping in the medians during the day. By that time, paving should be completed, the city said.

If the paving and median work goes according to schedule, the entire Fruitville Road project is expected to be completed by April, the city said.

Sarasota County Advanced Traffic Management System (Phase One):  The installation of new signal controller cabinets at 121 intersections throughout the county has been completed. Over the coming weeks, workers will make adjustments to the signals at intersections throughout the county.

Other work associated with this project includes conduit installation and fiber installation to forge a countywide network of intersections that will link to the Manatee County Traffic Control Center. The conduit and fiber installations will be done during the day. There may be delays and disruption in the coordination of signals during installation; however, these will be corrected as the contractor moves along a corridor. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in spring 2012. 

Ringling Boulevard: At Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue: Two projects are underway to construct roundabouts on Ringling at Pineapple Avenue and Palm Avenue. The roundabouts will replace a traffic signal and a four-way stop. 

Construction will start on the south side, allowing one lane of traffic through on the north side.

Once the south side of Ringling is completed, the project will switch to the north side. The roundabouts are expected to be finished in spring 2012.

US 301 (Washington Boulevard): From Myrtle Street to DeSoto Road: Construction project expanding U.S. 301 from four to six lanes. This week, the contractor plans to continue general cleanup and repair operations. Motorists can expect intermittent single lane closures during daytime hours while crews are working in the area.

Two lanes of northbound and southbound traffic will be maintained at all times during the day. Additionally the contractor will continue placing final pavement markings during night-time hours which will require intermittent lane closures.

The general contractor is Cone & Graham, Inc. and the projected completion of the project is Wednesday.

US 301 (Washington Boulevard): From 5th Street to 7th Street: There will be a northbound lane closure on Washington Boulevard from 5th Street to 7th Street through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Maintenance crews will be installing a new sidewalk and sign footer. The sidewalk will also be closed.  Pedestrian traffic will be directed to the sidewalk on the other side of the road.

US 41, over North Creek: This project consists of placing rip-rap in the channel. Work will begin on Oct. 31 and is expected to last until Jan. 28. During the initial phase, the contractor, Wright Construction, plans to survey the channel bottom with divers. The waterways will remain accessible to marine traffic. No lane closures are expected at this time but may be needed during rip-rap installation.

R 789: At the Ringling Bridge: Crews will be performing maintenanceon the bridge. There will be no lane closures or other impacts to the motoring public. Maintenance work will continue daily from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. through the end of December 2011.

SR 789: Over Coon Key Waterway: Bridge maintenance project--- This project consists of placing rip-rap at various pier locations. Work is expected to last until Jan. 28. During the initial phase, the contractor plans to survey the channel bottom with divers. The waterways will remain accessible to marine traffic. The contractor, Wright Construction, will mobilize on site to place rip-rap.  No lane closures are expected during the length of this project.  

SR 758 (Bee Ridge Road): From US 41 to Beneva Road: There will be eastbound outside lane closures through Jan. 6 between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.  Crews will be repairing storm water inlets and drain pipes.  Motorists are advised to use caution while in the area and expect possible delays.

SR 681: Over US 41: This project consists of routine bridge maintenance. Lane closures are expected once crews begin working.

SR 72 (Clark Road): Replacement of the Bridge Over the Myakka River: This project is located approximately 9 miles east of I-75 in Sarasota County, within the boundaries of the Myakka River State Park. The project consists of the removal and replacement of the existing 57-year-old bridge over the Myakka River. The new structure will consist of two travel lanes with 8-foot wide shoulders. Current construction activities involve the demolition of the existing bridge and construction of the substructure for the permanent bridge. Traffic has been switched onto the temporary bridge and motorists should expect to encounter a lane shift. There will be a potential for some occasional minor delays during the daylight hours only. The project completion is estimated for summer 2012. The contractor is Kelly Brothers Construction, Inc. 

SR 72: From West of Proctor Road to Saddle Creek Trail: This project consists of milling and resurfacing the roadway, turn lane construction, drainage improvements, guardrail installation and intersection improvements at SR 72 and Proctor Road. Motorists should expect single lane closures on SR 72 between the hours of 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. while crews are working. 

This project will begin in mid-November and is expected to be completed in spring, 2012. The contractor is Ajax Paving Industries.