A pair of construction projects clogging up the heart of Holmes Beach are in their final stages.
But it may take the remainder of summer months to wrap up one of them.
City engineer Sage Kamiya said June 13 that he was “hopeful” Sarasota-based C-Squared CGC Inc. would finish the city center improvement project — originally set to wrap up in December 2022 —by the first week of July.
On the other hand, Brett Gocka, project manager of Manatee County’s force main replacement project on Holmes Boulevard and other streets connecting to Gulf Drive, told The Islander June 15 that Sarasota-based Spectrum Underground won’t finish their job until late August-early September.
City center improvement project
Construction on the city center improvement project began last September and the bulk of the work was completed in May.
The $3,001,460.85 project involves improving drainage infrastructure and adding roadway markings, bicycle lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, street lighting and landscaping from the intersection of Gulf and Marina drives to the 5600 block of Marina.
Kamiya said C-Squared still needed to install handrails along sidewalks, activate new lighting, lay a top lift of asphalt and restripe roads.
He said part of the delay with activating the new lights was due to a missing part, a major load center that apparently is unavailable. He said they are seeking an alternative.
Kamiya added that the contractor’s temporary striping along the roadway was “done a little bit by eyeball instead of following the plans” but the final job would be done to plan.
“We will continue to push,” he said. “I have every bit of commitment from the contractor that we’re going to get it by July. … I’m hopeful that he’ll actually be able to do it.”
Force main replacement project
The county’s $3,618,672.10 project began last March. It involves replacing 4,000 feet of 16-inch force main along Holmes Boulevard and 1,100 feet of 8-inch force main along 58th Street with new PVC piping.
Work also involves replacing existing water services and upsizing potable water lines along the stretch from 2-inch and 4-inch diameters to 6-inch diameter pipes.
Construction was initially projected to end last November but the timeline has been delayed multiple times.
Gocka told The Islander that Spectrum finished installing the 16-inch force main along Holmes Boulevard June 15 and had completed the 8-inch force main along 58th Street.
Now Spectrum must pressure test the pipelines, then tie them into nearby manholes and lift stations, according to Gocka.
That process could take about two weeks to complete.
Spectrum will then move to upgrading water services along the stretch, which will require temporarily shutting down water access to a four-block stretch — which has yet to be determined — while work is completed.
Gocka said the shutdowns would occur overnight and impacted property owners would be notified in advance.
Spectrum will test the upgraded water services over the next week, then begin restoration work.
That will involve repaving the impacted stretch of Holmes Boulevard and 58th Street, as well as replacing damaged sod and sidewalk panels.
Gocka said work should be finished by early September, unless the contractor runs into inclement weather or unforeseen issues.