State Road 64 roundabout is almost finished. Work starts Monday on another one nearby
Traffic slowly weaved its way this week through a maze of construction barrels that lined the newly opened-to-traffic, but-still-under-construction roundabout at Rye Road and State Road 64.
The Florida Department of Transportation recently announced that over the next few months, the contractor will complete work on the center island of the roundabout and prepare to install the final layer of asphalt along the roadway. Possible nighttime/overnight lane closures can be expected.
Work started on the roundabout one year ago and is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.
Manatee County sheriff’s deputies stayed busy Thursday slowing down drivers who exceeded the 25 mph speed limit through the roundabout.
“It’s been a problem,” sheriff’s spokesman Randy Warren said of speeders zipping through the construction zone.
Deputies wrote about seven speeding tickets Thursday, and handed out roughly the same number of warnings, Warren said.
Although the Rye Road roundabout is nearing completion, drivers will soon have construction of a second, nearby roundabout to navigate.
FDOT begins intersection improvements on State Road 64 at Greyhawk Boulevard/Pope Road, staring Monday. Completion is expected in late summer of 2021.
Richard Buelow watched construction of the Rye Road roundabout on Thursday from the sidewalk.
“We have a heck of a hard time getting out of our complex,” Buelow said of the heavy traffic along State Road 64 “This roundabout and the next one will help slow them down.”
Originally, start of construction of the Greyhawk roundabout was planned for 2023, but FDOT accelerated the schedule by three years.
The roundabout will replace an intersection considered dangerous by many motorists, and which has often turned deadly.
A new multi-lane modern roundabout will be constructed at the intersection complete with pedestrian activated crossings on all legs of the roundabout, drainage improvements, new roundabout lighting, and landscaping. The project also includes a new traffic signal and crosswalks at State Road 64 and 117th Street East.
During construction, Pope Road at State Road 64 will close starting Monday and State Road 64 will be reduced to one lane in each direction.
The speed limit through the construction zone on State Road 64 will be reduced to 45 mph throughout construction. FDOT reminds motorists to use caution and be aware of construction workers in the construction zone.
Follow FDOT on social media at http://swflroads.com/, on Twitter at @MyFDOT_SWFL, or https://www.facebook.com/MyFDOTSWFL/ to stay informed about project developments.
