Tamiami Trail Construction Meeting Set

Residents can come out Tuesday night at Southside Baptist Church to pepper Florida Department of Transportation with questions about upcoming construction on U.S. 41 and State Road 72.

The department will host the meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 2035 Magnolia St., Sarasota. 

The meeting will provide the public an opportunity to learn about upcoming construction on Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) between Bee Ridge Road and Siesta Drive in Sarasota; and Clark Road (S.R. 72) between Sailors Way and Gantt Road in the county.

This meeting will be held in an open house format with no formal presentation. Project staff will be available to discuss the project and answer questions.

The department proposes removing the center turning lane on Tamiami Trail and replacing it with a raised concrete median. All properties along the corridor will maintain access, but with modifications, the department said.

Left-turn lanes at Bee Ridge Road and Siesta Drive will be extended to accommodate traffics queues.

On Clark Road, the median opening at Sailors Way/Rand Boulevard will be built to only allow left turns onto side streets, which would also prevent left turns from properties along that stretch of road.

The Gantt Road intersection will also be improved, the department announced.

If you have questions about the meeting or the project contact Brian Bollas, Project Public Information Officer, at 800-396-7273.