Project designed to improve pedestrian safety
(Editor’s note: This article was updated on the morning of July 10 to include a new FDOT schedule for the work.)
Although the the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had planned to begin installing speed humps this week at eight locations along State Road 789 in the vicinity of St. Armands Circle, the rains have delayed the start to July 15, the department has announced.
“Weather permitting, work on this $40,000 safety improvement project will mostly be performed at night,” an FDOT news release said. “Drivers are urged to slow down and drive carefully when travelling through the work zone.” A July 9 FDOT update said, “Nighttime/overnight lane closures from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. are expected.”
The initiative comes at the request of the St. Armands Circle Association and the City of Sarasota, the news release explained.
“These speed humps are designed to encourage motorists to slow down when driving through the circle, enabling pedestrians to safely cross the road and reducing the number and severity of crashes,” the release said. Unlike speed bumps, which often are seen in large apartment complexes, “speed humps provide a gentle transition and traffic calming environment, which can reduce speeds from 15 to 20 mph,” the release added.
The speed humps, which are made of recycled and synthetic rubber, are a temporary solution as FDOT determines the feasibility of constructing permanent, raised pedestrian crosswalks and raised intersections within and adjacent to St. Armands Circle, the release noted.