Post Date: 10/22/2019 9:57 AM

Contact: Jason Bartolone, Communications Specialist 941-928-3988 jason.bartolone@sarasotafl.gov

Sarasota, FL: Drivers traveling on the John Ringling Causeway to and from St. Armands Key can expect limited lane closures beginning this week as work starts on the new Coon Key Multi-Use Recreational Trail (MURT).

The City, in partnership with the Florida Department of Transportation, will be constructing a 10-foot-wide, multi-use trail that extends from the Coon Key Bridge to St. Armands Circle. The trail will provide an improved, safer multi-modal transportation option for pedestrians and bicyclists that connects the barrier islands with downtown and the future extension of the Legacy Trail.

As part of the project, crews will be removing Australian pines, an invasive species that can easily be toppled during a storm due to their shallow root system, presenting a serious safety hazard along this evacuation route. A total of 223 Australian pines will be removed and replaced with 246 new trees of various native species as part of the project.

Crews will begin tree removal on the south side of John Ringling Causeway, then move to the north side. To ensure the safety of workers and motorists, vehicular traffic will be reduced to one lane on whichever side of the road the crews are working. This work is anticipated to be completed by early December. Construction of the trail will follow and is not expected to significantly impact traffic.

The MURT project also includes the replacement of a 16-inch water main on the north side of the road, storm drain replacement and the installation of three bus shelters. The entire project is expected to take about 11 months to complete.

The total project cost is $1.89 million, with about $830,000 funded by an FDOT grant.

For more information, contact Assistant City Engineer Daniel Ohrenstein at 941-263-6520.

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About the City of Sarasota: Distinguished by U.S. News and World Report as the 18th Best Place to Live in the U.S., the City of Sarasota is a diverse community located on Florida’s Suncoast with 55,000 year-round residents, several internationally recognized cultural arts venues, stunning sunsets along Lido Beach, a 45-hole municipal golf course at the historic Bobby Jones Golf Club, and Major League spring training baseball with the Baltimore Orioles. Learn more about us at www.SarasotaFL.Gov