Island roadwatch, Feb. 1-8

Drainage improvements will continue in the area of 60th Street and Marina Drive this week in Holmes Beach, and motorists are advised to drive with caution when construction equipment is present.

A spokesperson for contractor Woodruff & Sons of Bradenton said the drainage project would continue until late March and proceed northward from street to street, ending with improvements on 79th Street.

Signs will be posted when a street has to be closed, the spokesperson said.

A Florida Department of Transportation ban remains in effect for over-size vehicles on the Longboat Pass Bridge/State Road 789, and DOT officials expect the restriction to last until April.

The contractor had to reduce the width of the travel lanes from 12 feet to 10 feet, resulting in the restriction, the DOT said in a press release.

Most of the work is done at night and any lane closures will occur between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. A flagging operation will be present to direct traffic during any lane closure. There will be no lane closures from 6 a.m. Friday to 10 p.m. Sunday.

However, the DOT advised that the contractor would be conducting both day and night work until Feb. 2.

Motorists are advised to use caution and obey the speed limit, which has been reduced to 35 mph for the duration of construction.

The draw is available to boaters on demand and pedestrians can use the sidewalk on the east side of the bridge to walk between Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach.

The project is expected to finish in April or early May, according to the DOT release.