The completion and reopening of Myrtle Street from the intersection of U.S. 41 and Myrtle Street to the bridge west of the U.S. 301 and Myrtle Street intersection.

Sarasota County

Join us virtually on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 for the reopening of the Myrtle Street Improvement Project! We’re excited to celebrate the completion and reopening of Myrtle Street in this area and the improvements that have been made from the intersection of U.S. 41 and Myrtle Street to the bridge west of the U.S. 301 and Myrtle Street intersection.

The Myrtle Street Improvement Project spans from the intersection of U.S. 41 and Myrtle Street to the bridge west of the U.S. 301 and Myrtle Street intersection.

The project consists of milling and resurfacing with minor sidewalk improvements and lighting from U.S. 41 to Old Bradenton Road; milling and resurfacing with some widening, sidewalk improvements and lighting from Old Bradenton Road to the Seminole Gulf Railroad tracks; reconstruction of the road including curb and gutter with bike lanes, sidewalks and lighting from the railroad to the end of the project west of U.S. 301.

As part of the project construction, a road closure from Myrtle Street west of Central Avenue to Booker High School west entrance will occur from Monday, Feb. 3 through Friday, June 5.

Phased project:

Phase 2A: U.S. 41 to Central Avenue – The construction on the south side of this phase has been completed.
Phase 2B: Central Avenue to North Orange Avenue – The Seminole Gulf Railway (SGLR) has completed the design of the crossing improvements. The SGLR has ordered the materials and started the site clearing in September 2019 for the construction of its track replacement. The contractor has begun the planning and scheduling of Phase 2B construction. The initial construction activities are expected to begin in February 2020.
Phase 2C: North Orange Avenue to west of U.S. 301 – The project is expected to be re-bid in May 2020, with construction anticipated to start late Fall 2020. Project completion is expected in Fall 2021.

Additional project details:

The improvements include continuous sidewalk along the corridor.
Bicycle lanes will be provided between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 along both sides of the road.
Street lighting will be provided along the corridor. Street lighting will consist of decorative pedestrian street lighting from Central Avenue to east of Osprey Avenue in order to match the lighting installed in Phase 2A and on Old Bradenton Road improvements. Lighting from east of Osprey Avenue to west of U.S. 301 will be conventional roadway lighting.
The speed limit of Myrtle Street will remain as currently posted.
Due to right-of-way constraints, the lanes from approximately the railroad tracks to west of U.S. 301 will be 12 feet wide, which is slightly wider than the existing lane widths.
Due to limited right-of-way throughout the corridor, no additional turn lanes will be added.
Some landscaping improvements will be included with the project in front of Booker High School.
Drainage improvements will be included throughout the limits of the project in order to address flooding concerns.