Event planned in-person and online
On Tuesday, Nov. 17, representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will conduct a public meeting on the plans for the resurfacing, restoration and rehabilitation project that will include median modifications along U.S. 41 from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of U.S. 301, the department has announced.
The project website explains, that, formally, “This is a federally funded Resurfacing, Restoration, and Rehabilitation (RRR) project along State Road (S.R.) 45 (U.S. 41) from South of S.R. 758 (Bee Ridge Road) to South of S.R. 683 (U.S. 301) in the City of Sarasota.”
The nearly 2-mile initiative also will include “safety improvements for vehicles and pedestrians within the heavy traffic corridor,” the website notes.
Among those improvements will be the milling and resurfacing of “the main road, crossovers, turn lanes, and side street connections along with median modifications at select locations,” the addition of crosswalks at all signalized intersections, improved lighting at signalized intersections, ADA compliance modifications (such as reconstructing non-compliant ramps), the updating of traffic signals, installation of additional signage, and the updating of bus stop locations with boarding and alighting pads as necessary, the webpage says.
Among the project details in FDOT Five Year Work Program for District 1, which includes Sarasota County are the information that the department plans to advertise for bids in late September 2027 and then award the project to a contractor in late October 2027.
A chart in the work program notes that FDOT has budgeted $260,872 for the initiative this fiscal year, with another $13,230,548 set aside for it in the 2028 fiscal year. Each Florida state government fiscal year begins on July 1.
FDOT will provide multiple ways to participate in the public meeting, a news release notes:
- In-person option — From 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Jack J. Geldbart Auditorium within Selby Library, which stands at 1331 First Street in downtown Sarasota (34236). The open house format will include “a video presentation that will replay automatically so attendees can arrive at their convenience,” the release says. The project team members will be available, as well, to answer questions. Further, attendees will have the ability to submit comments at the event and online.
- Online project website — For the public’s convenience and 24-hour access, all meeting materials, including the project video, will be available online the day before the meeting. This option includes the ability to comment online, the release adds. The website is https://www.swflroads.com/project/452784-1
Comments also may be submitted to FDOT’s project manager, Amber Albritton, at 863-519-2668, via email at amber.albritton@dot.state.fl.us or by mail to Florida Department of Transportation, Attn: Amber Albritton, 801 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, Florida 33830.
While comments about the project will be accepted at any time, the release points out, they must be submitted to FDOT by Dec. 1 to be included in the meeting record.