Look for traffic — especially island-bound traffic on Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road — to get heavier Nov. 22, the start of check-in days for many who plan to celebrate Thanksgiving on Anna Maria Island and stay the week.
In other travel news, the Florida Department of Transportation issued the following alerts for motorists driving in the area the week of Nov. 17:
• SR 789/Gulf Drive from SR 684 to 28th Street: Crews are replacing power poles. Motorists should expect northbound lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 21.
• SR 789 from Coquina Beach to 13th Street South: Crews are making drainage improvements. Expect nighttime/overnight lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. Expected completion is early 2015. Florida Safety Contractors, Inc. is the contractor.
• SR 684/Cortez Road at the Cortez Bridge from east of Gulf Drive to west of 127th Street West: Crews will work on the bridge beams and fender wall. Crews will work Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. until December on concrete pouring. Work also includes general maintenance and repairs to the bridge span, beams, piling, seawall, and bridge-tender house. Quinn Construction Inc. is the contractor. The expected completion is winter 2014/early 2015.
• SR 684 from 103rd Street to 119th Street: Crews are replacing power poles. The outside eastbound lane will close from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 21. Motorists should use caution while in the area and expect possible delays.
For the latest roadwatch information, people can go online to www.fl511.com or dial “511.”
Local agencies can send announcements of roadwatch projects to news@islander.org.