Detour Set For Another Sunset Point Road Improvement Project

CLEARWATER, FL — Pinellas County will begin construction on Monday, Aug. 10, on a sidewalk and roadway improvement project on Sunset Point Road between Edgewater Drive (Alternate U.S. 19) and the Pinellas Trail in Clearwater.

To benefit pedestrian safety, the County is constructing sidewalks on the north side of Sunset Point Road from Edgewater Drive to the Pinellas Trail and the south side of the road from Stevenson Avenue to the trail. Also, the roadway will be partially reconstructed to smooth out the curves and enhance safety. The project is set for completion in May 2021.

The roadway construction will require a detour around the project area that will use Marshall Street/Fairmont Street to the south, Douglas Avenue to the east and Union Street to the north. A change to the detour may be necessary when Florida Department of Transportation begins planned resurfacing of Edgewater Drive from Mohawk Street to north of Tilden Street/Skinner Boulevard in Dunedin in mid-August.

Meanwhile, another project east of the Pinellas Trail is proceeding on schedule. The County is in the third and final phase of a safety and roadway improvement project on Sunset Point Road between Douglas Avenue and Kings Highway. This phase has required a full closure of the intersection of Sunset Point Road and North Betty Lane until completion of construction in February 2021. Marked detours are using Kings Highway to the east, Douglas Avenue to the west, Union Street to the north and Fairmont Street/Oakmont Avenue to the south. Only local resident and school traffic will be permitted beyond the road closures.

This phase is focused on improvements to the intersection of Sunset Point Road and North Betty Lane. The County is reconstructing the intersection with mast arm traffic signals, pedestrian improvements, underground drainage and new pavement.

The full project includes new pavement on Sunset Point Road from Douglas Avenue to Kings Highway, turn lane enhancements, ADA-compliant sidewalks, curb ramps and bicycle lanes. West of Betty Lane, a new bridge has been constructed at Spring Branch as part of an overall drainage basin improvement plan coordinated with the City of Clearwater. Included are channel enhancements, a new sidewalk (replacing a steel pedestrian bridge) and significantly reduced flood elevations in the Spring Branch sub-basin.

This project is on schedule to be completed in February 2021. It will enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety, provide a more efficient flow of traffic and improve drainage.

This press release was produced by the Pinellas County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.