Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/309372
Improvements in north Sarasota will continue with a streetscape project along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way corridor that began this week, the City of Sarasota has announced. The entire length of the corridor stretching from U.S. 41 to U.S. 301 will be repaved, a news release says. Additionally, brick cross- walks will be installed, bulbouts will be removed, trees will be replaced and a bicycle lane will be added, the release notes. The project is scheduled to be finished by mid-July. While no street closures are expected during the project, motorists and pedestrians should plan for periodic lane closures, the release points out. At the same time, the release notes, crews occasionally may need to tem- porarily close driveways. "In those cases, the contractor will work closely with residents and merchants to minimize the impact and allow driveway access throughout the proj- ect," the release says. The following project details were provided: • Central Avenue to Osprey Avenue: Existing bulbouts will be removed and replaced with level pavement and a striped bicycle lane will be added between the road and curb. • Osprey Avenue to U.S. 301: Existing oak trees will be replaced with palm trees. • U.S. 41 to U.S. 301: The entire length of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be repaved. • Orange Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way intersection: Brick crosswalks will be installed, which could take up to three weeks; new pedestrian safety features will be installed, including pedestrian cross- walk indicators and push buttons; during the crosswalk construction, a metal grate will be placed on the road atop the work area to allow vehicles to travel over the concrete. The Orange Avenue intersection improve- ments will be the final segment of the work, the release points out. The $200,000 project is being funded through a Community Development Block Grant as well as the penny surtax and gas tax, the release says. It is planned that both tax funds will be reimbursed with Newtown Community R e d e v e l o p m e n t A g e n c y m o n e y, t h e release adds. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY STREETSCAPE WORK UNDER WAY An aerial view shows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301. Image from Google Maps Sarasota News Leader May 9, 2014 Page 83