Project completion set for late 2024
As work continues on the diverging diamond project on Clark Road in Sarasota, Brian Bollas, community outreach manager for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) initiative, is cautioning the public about “lot of closures the next two weeks during overnight hours,” from midnight to 2 a.m.
At all times, Bollas pointed out in an April 19 advisory, drivers “should expect delays and use caution in the work zone.”
In that advisory, Bollas provided the following list of detours:
From midnight on Sunday, April 23, to 2 a.m. on Monday, April 24
Crews will close State Road (SR) 72/Clark Road under Interstate 75.
- East of I-75 — Drivers on I-75 northbound to Clark Road westbound, and Clark Road westbound drivers, will be detoured to Proctor Road and then directed to make a left onto Honore Avenue to reach Clark Road.
- West of I-75 — Drivers on I-75 southbound to Clark Road eastbound, and Clark Road eastbound drivers, will be detoured to Honore Avenue and then directed to make a right onto Proctor Road to reach Clark Road.
From midnight on Monday, April 24, to 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25
Crews will close State Road 72/Clark Road under I-75.
- East of I-75 — Drivers on I-75 northbound to Clark Road westbound, and Clark Road westbound drivers, will be detoured to Proctor Road and then advised to turn left onto Honore Avenue to reach Clark Road.
- West of I-75 — Drivers on I-75 southbound to Clark Road eastbound, and Clark Road eastbound drivers, will be detoured to Honore Avenue and then directed to take a right onto Proctor Road to reach Clark Road.
From midnight on Tuesday, April 25, to 2 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26
Crews will close SR 72/Clark Road just east of Queensbury Boulevard.
- East of Queensbury Boulevard — Westbound drivers on Clark Road will be detoured to Proctor Road and then directed to turn left onto Honore Avenue to reach Clark Road.
- West of Queensbury Boulevard — Drivers on I-75 northbound and southbound to Clark Road eastbound, and Clark Road eastbound drivers, will be detoured to Honore Avenue and then directed to make a right onto Proctor Road to reach Clark Road.
Other closures
- From midnight on Sunday, April 30, to 2 a.m. on Monday, May 1, crews will close the I-75 northbound off-ramp to SR 72/Clark Road. Drivers heading to Clark Road either may continue to I-75 at Bee Ridge Road (Exit 207) so they can return to I-75 southbound to Clark Road (Exit 205); or use alternate routes.
- From midnight on Monday, May 1, to 2 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, crews will close I-75 northbound just north of Laurel Road (Exit 195). All I-75 northbound drivers will exit at Laurel Road (Exit 195) and continue on Laurel Road to a right onto Honore Avenue and then to a right onto Clark Road to I-75 northbound.
- From midnight on Monday, May 1, to 2 a.m. on Tuesday, May 2, crews will close the SR 681 on-ramp to I-75 northbound. Drivers will be advised to take a left turn onto Honore Avenue and then a right onto Clark Road to reach I-75 northbound.
Project details
The Florida Department of Transportation’s report about road construction for the period of April 16-22 says the diverging diamond at Clark Road is expected to be completed before the end of 2024.
The project entails the reconstruction of the existing interchange to an eight-lane diverging diamond Interchange (DDI), the addition of an auxiliary lane on I-75 northbound from SR 72 to Bee Ridge Road, the widening of I-75 southbound from Proctor Road to Clark Road, and improvements on Clark Road, FDOT explains. The length of the project is 0.913 miles, FDOT notes in its current Five Year Work Program.
The initiative began on Oct 15, 2021.
Additionally, the work includes the reconstruction of all on and off ramps in both the northbound and southbound directions, new mast arms for the existing signal at Catamaran Drive, a new signal at Queensbury Boulevard, noise barrier walls, and buffered bike lanes and sidewalks along both sides of Clark Road, plus the resurfacing of existing pavement.
The construction expense is $52.6 million, the project page adds. The diverging diamond at University Parkway and I-75 cost $75.4 million, FDOT reported.
Sacyr Construction, which is based in Madrid, is the contractor handling the work. It has offices in Miami and Lakewood Ranch, a News Leader online search found.