Downtown Sarasota

Detours for U.S. 41/Fruitville Road roundabout scheduled to begin Nov. 25

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City manager offers recommendations about detours

The Embassy Suites stands on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Fruitville Road in downtown Sarasota. Image courtesy City of Sarasota

The contractor constructing the U.S. 41-Fruitville Road roundabout has accelerated the initial phase of the project, Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin has announced.

The two significant traffic pattern changes expected to be implemented later will begin along the U.S. 41 corridor as soon as Monday, Nov. 25, Barwin reported in his Nov. 22 newsletter.

The two changes involve left turns:

  • Southbound traffic on U.S. 41 will not be able to turn east — or left — onto Fruitville Road. This change will be in effect throughout much of the year-long construction project, Barwin added.

The recommended detour for eastbound traffic is to 10thStreet and then Lemon Avenue, to reach Fruitville Road, Barwin continued. “If you miss 10th Street, the next best opportunity to go eastbound will be Ringling [Boulevard],” he added.

  • Northbound U.S. 41 traffic will not be able to head westbound on Boulevard of the Arts. “U-turns will not be permitted,” Barwin emphasized. “This left turn lane is expected to be restored in late January 2020,” he pointed out.

The recommended detour is for traffic to travel west on 10thStreet and then south onto Van Wezel Way to Boulevard of the Arts, Barwin wrote.

“Additional note,” he continued: The left-turn, eastbound traffic coming off the Ringling Bridge and Gulfstream Avenue to northbound U.S. 41 will be reduced from three lanes to two.

“Electronic message boards are being strategically placed along U.S. 41 to give drivers advance notice about the traffic changes, which are scheduled to occur late Sunday night,” Nov. 24,” Barwin stressed. “That means the new traffic patterns will be in effect during the Monday morning commute on Nov. 25. Please keep this information in mind and plan your travels accordingly.”

The roundabout is being constructed by the developer of Quay Sarasota on behalf of the City of Sarasota, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Transportation, “to enhance safety and connectivity,” Barwin added.

For the latest information visit US41FruitvilleRoundabout.com. On the homepage, a person may register to receive email updates directly to his or her inbox.