DOT has projects for Bradenton Beach
By Rick Catlin
The Florida Department of Transportation has plans for three enhancement/beautification projects for Bradenton Beach and will consolidate all three into one contract. The city has received matching grant funds from the DOT for the projects.
DOT representative Chris Piazza told members of the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway Committee Corridor Management Entity Oct. 4 that the design and engineering phase of the projects is in its 2005-06 budget and construction should begin during the 2006-07 fiscal year.
The projects include sidewalks and pedestrian safety measures, a new entrance sign at the Gulf Drive-Cortez Road intersection and an upgrade of the traffic light at that intersection to include a voice-operated pedestrian crossing signal.
In other business, the CME learned from Public Works Director Dottie Poindexter that Gulf Drive at the S-curve may not conform to the proper DOT markers. The road was washed out by a hurricane in the early 1950s and many not have been rebuilt entirely on DOT right of way.
The CME also discussed a recent joint meeting with the Palma Sola Scenic Highway Committee where that committee suggested that the Holmes Beach portion of Gulf Drive be included in the scenic highway program.
CME members suggested that request should come from Holmes Beach and expressed little interest in a joint CME to oversee one continuous scenic highway from the eastern portion of the Palma Sola Causeway south on the Holmes Beach portion of State Road 789 and ending in Bradenton Beach at the Longboat Pass Bridge. |
