Temporary lane closure scheduled for Aug. 26
In its District One Roadwatch Report for Aug. 25 through Aug. 31, the Florida Department of Transportation has provided an updated advisory about lane closures that will be necessary as the repair/rehabilitation project on the Stickney Point Road drawbridge continues.
Originally planned for Aug. 27 and Aug. 28, the first traffic diversion has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sep. 4, and Thursday, Sept. 5, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the report points out.
“This will shift all traffic to one side of the bridge, reducing traffic to a single lane in each direction,” the report says. “Consider using the north bridge,” it adds, or plan on “additional travel time.”
The report did point out. “Evening traffic should be unaffected.”
In the meantime, starting on Monday, Aug. 26, “a temporary outside lane closure will be needed.” Motorists should plan on extra travel time that day, as well, the report says.
“Bridge openings for boat traffic will continue as usual,” the report continues. If the operator of a vessel requires that both panels be raised for the boat to navigate through the opening, “a reservation is required.”
The report also notes, “Bicyclists and pedestrians will still have access to cross the bridge.”
As The Sarasota News Leader has reported, the $2.4-million initiative, which FDOT began in mid-June, has been planned to “extend the bridge’s service life and operational reliability, while mitigating the effects of the harsh coastal environment, severe weather, and wear from the volume of vehicle and marine traffic,” an FDOT news release explained.
“The project duration is expected to be 200 days,” the release added.
The Stickney Point Road drawbridge is the primary access that south Siesta Key residents use to travel between the island and the mainland.