Public welcome to attend event at 4379 Clark Road
At 9 a.m. on Monday, July 21, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally mark the opening of The Legacy Trail overpasses at Clark Road and Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, the department has announced.
In a news release, FDOT notes that those structures offer “a safer and more seamless journey for Sarasota’s 650,000+ annual trail users.” Each overpass spans approximately a quarter mile, FDOT points out, eliminating “challenging crossing points” among bicyclists, pedestrians and motor vehicle traffic.” FDOT calls the opening of the overpasses “a milestone for mobility, recreation, and community connection that’s worthy of celebration.”
The ceremony will be held at 4379 Clark Road in Sarasota, the FDOT release says, noting that the site is on the north side of the Clark Road overpass.
“Against a striking backdrop featuring a 12-by-18-foot American flag and scenic views of the Legacy Trail, the event will open with Sarasota’s own Fire Department Honor Guard and a stirring rendition of the National Anthem performed by acclaimed local vocalist Shantel Norman,” the news release continues. “The program will include a dynamic project video featuring commentary from Friends of the Legacy Trail and Sarasota County officials — capturing the collaboration, community pride, and vision that brought this transformative initiative to life,” the release adds.
The program also will include remarks by numerous speakers, including Sarasota County Commissioners Teresa Mast and Ron Cutsinger; Nicole Mills, director of transportation development for FDOT’s District One, which includes Sarasota County; former county Commissioner Charles Hines, program director for the Florida Gulf Coast Trails program of the Trust for Public Land; and Louis Kosiba, president of the nonprofit Friends of the Legacy Trail.
FDOT began construction of the overpasses in November 2023, the release points out. The total expense was $13 million.