The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, will conduct a public meeting regarding proposed changes to design plans for improvements to Interstate 75 (I-75) from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of Fruitville Road in Sarasota ...

 

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The Florida Department of Transportation, District One announces a public meeting to which all persons are invited.

DATE AND TIME: Thursday, February 11, 2016, 5:00 p.m.

PLACE: Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee, 2320 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, FL 34232

GENERAL SUBJECT MATTER TO BE CONSIDERED: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, will conduct a public meeting regarding proposed changes to design plans for improvements to Interstate 75 (I-75) from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of Fruitville Road in Sarasota County. FDOT is holding this meeting on February 11, 2016 to allow interested persons the opportunity to provide comments concerning changes to the proposed design plans at the I-75/Bee Ridge Road interchange.

In 2011, the Federal Highway Administration approved a preferred alternative from the Project Development and Environment (PD&E) study of I-75 from south of SR 681 to north of University Parkway in Sarasota and Manatee counties. At the I-75/Bee Ridge Road interchange, the preferred alternative maintained the existing partial cloverleaf interchange but added turn lanes on the northbound and southbound I-75 off-ramps. The preferred alternative also included widening of Bee Ridge Road from four to six lanes in each direction and the adding turn lanes at the Bee Ridge Road/Cattlemen Road intersection.

During the design phase, traffic simulations indicated that the preferred alternative would result in excessive delay and queuing. To address this issue, FDOT developed a modified design proposal that includes reconstructing I-75 at the Bee Ridge Road interchange from the existing diamond configuration to a hybrid diverging diamond interchange (DDI) and southbound diversion ramp. FDOT would also rebuild the Bee Ridge Road/Cattlemen Road intersection to a continuous flow intersection (CFI). The hybrid DDI, southbound diversion ramp, and CFI work in conjunction to accommodate the traffic at the I-75/Bee Ridge Road interchange and the Bee Ridge Road/Cattlemen Road intersection, which are in very close proximity to each other. The proposed design plans continue to include widening of I-75 from south of Bee Ridge Road to south of Fruitville Road and widening of about one mile of Bee Ridge Road.

FDOT representatives will be available at the public meeting beginning at 5:00 p.m. to answer questions, review proposed design plans and project-related materials on display, and discuss the project informally. FDOT will make a presentation at 6:00 p.m. followed by an opportunity for attendees to make oral public comments. FDOT will accept written comments at the meeting, mailed to Kevin Ingle, FDOT Project Manager, at 801 N. Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL 33831, or by email at [e-mail]. All comments must be postmarked by Monday, February 22, 2016 to become part of the public meeting record.

Draft project documents will be available for public review from January 21, 2016 to February 22, 2016 at the following locations and on the project website (www.swflroads.com/i75/beeridgerdtofruitvillerd), FDOT – District 1, 801 N. Broadway Avenue, Bartow, FL 33831, [phone], or Fruitville Public Library, 100 Coburn Road, Sarasota, FL 34240, [phone].

A copy of the agenda may be obtained by contacting Kevin Ingle, FDOT, District One, [phone], [e-mail]. Additional information about the project can also be found on the project website: www.swflroads.com/i75/beeridgerdtofruitvillerd.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 7 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting Shelly Smith, Title VI Coordinator, FDOT, District One, 801 N. Broadway Avenue, MS-1-10 Bartow, FL 33830, [phone], [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

If any person decides to appeal any decision made by the Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting or hearing, he/she will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceeding is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence from which the appeal is to be issued.

For more information, you may contact: Kevin Ingle, FDOT, District One, Project Manager at the contact information above.