A pat for the AJAX pavers

What a difference 14 years makes.

For those who lived on Longboat Key in 1995, the last time Gulf of Mexico Drive was repaved, you probably remember how long and excruciating that process was. It was so slow that our Cops Corner report frequently reported Longboaters falling asleep and snoring at the steering wheel while waiting for their lane to re-open.

This year, AJAX pavers completed the job on Gulf of Mexico Drive and John Ringling Boulevard heading into St. Armands Circle in extraordinary time — and as far as we know, with no one falling asleep.

Asphalt technology obviously has changed. You probably noticed as you passed the machinery doing the repaving, the removal of the old asphalt was like scooping snow off a driveway.

Great job, AJAX. Now that’s the power of private-sector innovation.