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Gulf Boulevard project moving along
By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008 |
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PINELLAS COUNTY – If everything continues on schedule, by about this time next year, the Gulf Boulevard construction project will be a done deal.
The project continues to progress on or ahead of schedule with expected completion in August 2009, according to D. Marq Caughell, public relations specialist with Pinellas County Utilities.
In the first nine months of construction several significant milestones have been reached, including completion of the seawall section; installation of 2,500 feet of potable water lines; installation of 16-inch reclaimed water lines between Park Boulevard and 200 Gulf Blvd.; 2,500 feet of road shoulder work, including bike paths and sidewalks on the west side of Gulf Boulevard, beginning at 192nd Street; and drainage outfall at 193rd Street, Caughell said in a project update.
The southern-most 4,000 feet is scheduled to be finished in its entirety by the end of October.
Work scheduled in the next 60 days includes completion of the pedestrian crossing at Tiki Gardens; completion of installation of 16-inch reclaimed water lines; installation of infrastructure for two more drainage outfalls; drainage work from Third Street to just north of Fourth Street; bike lane and sidewalk construction from First Street to Walsingham Road; and installation of reclaimed services north from First Street.
Caughell reminded residents that because porous asphalt is being used to provide stormwater management along Gulf Boulevard, it was important to keep lawn trimmings and loose sand off the roadway. Lawn trimming and loose sand being blown onto the roadway become a critical maintenance issue and will cause areas of standing water on Gulf Boulevard, he said.
“Even though porous asphalt isn’t being utilized everywhere, trimmings and loose sand being blown on the roadway may inhibit the proper functioning of the stormwater management system,” Caughell said. “It is against Florida Law to clog stormwater drainage systems. Therefore, we are asking all property owners to take a proactive role in educating anyone that performs landscape maintenance for them to ensure that all residents are in compliance with this law. Please make sure that whomever you have performing your landscape maintenance does not blow yard trimmings and loose sand onto the roadway.”
Caughell also said residents needed to understand that the Gulf Boulevard Construction Project is “distinct and separate” from the previous project led by Progress Energy with Bright House Networks and Verizon to underground the power, cable and phone lines that had previously been strung by pole. The undergrounding project took 2.5 years and was completed last fall.
The Gulf Boulevard project is designed solely to upgrade potable, reclaimed and sewer lines, add an innovative stormwater management system, perform maintenance on the seawall and enhance the roadway between Park Boulevard and Walsingham Road. The project is a partnership between Pinellas County Utilities, Florida Department of Transportation, city of Indian Rocks Beach and PBS&J.
Caughell said the original goal was for all projects to be completed simultaneously, but due to timing and budgeting concerns, the construction schedule changed. The Gulf Boulevard Construction Project itself is a combination of three projects; Pinellas County Utilities’ reclaimed water project, the city of Indian Rocks Beach’s sewer line project and the FDOT roadway improvement project.
Caudill said everyone appreciated the understanding and patience of residents of Indian Shores and Indian Rocks Beach.
“The narrowness of the work area and the limited width of the right-of-way make this project more challenging than most,” he said. “We understand the residents and local business’ desire for a speedy and successful construction project and appreciate your concerns.”
For more information, call the Pinellas County Hotline at 727-464-4273; Pinellas County Green Vest Representative, Darlene Brown at 727-422-8123. Residents can also talk to any Green Vest representative on site. After-hours emergencies should be reported to 727-464-4000.
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Article published on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2008
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