Work scheduled to start Nov. 27 on guardrail system at revetment on North Casey Key Road
The day before Thanksgiving, Sarasota County staff announced that the section of Manasota Key Road that suffered major damage as a result of Hurricane Idalia’s effects in late August has been repaired and has reopened to traffic.
“Final guardrail installation is expected to be completed next week, which may cause the road to be temporarily closed for a couple of days,” a news release did note, however.
County staff warned the public on Aug. 30 that the section of Manasota Key Road from north of Blind Pass/Middle Beach had been washed out. “Traffic cannot pass in either direction,” staff posted on Facebook that day. “STAY AWAY FROM THIS AREA,” the advisory said.
A day later, Jamie Carson, director of the county’s Communications Department, reported that approximately 1,600 feet of the road — about 0.3 miles — was damaged. She then noted that the affected area was between 6780 Manasota Key Road and Blind Pass Park.
A formal report produced later by the county’s Environmental Protection Division staff said that Manasota Key appeared to have taken the brunt of Idalia’s effects in Sarasota County.
A related note in the Nov. 22 staff advisory said that work to replace the wooden guardrail system along the revetment area of North Casey Key Road is scheduled to begin the week of Nov. 27.
The early September Environmental Protection report about Idalia’s effects also noted the guardrail damage “to the step-revetment in the 712 N. Casey Key Road area.”
When the project begins next week, the Nov. 22 advisory added, “One lane of the road will be closed between 532 N. Casey Key Road and 846 N. Casey Key Road,” with the other lane left open for public transportation throughout the construction period.
“Motorists are asked to use caution in the area,” the advisory said.