Beach Road considered for CIP

Three weeks after Tropical Storm Debby annihilated south Siesta Key, causing more than $5 million in erosion damages, the island found a silver lining in the storm’s wake: more attention from Sarasota County.

First, it was the delayed stormwater runoff improvements planned for Beach Road, which flooded for an entire weekend after the storm. Sarasota County Commissioner Nora Patterson asked county staff to try to expedite the permits required for construction.

Now, a neglected stretch of the same street, which was filed away under Sarasota County’s list of unfunded mobility projects last year, is getting another look after the tropical storm widened fissures in its asphalt, prompting resident emails to commissioners. The response was quick and personal.

“(Patterson) was worried about what would happen to the road if a major storm hit in March,” said Beach Road property manager Jean Furlong in an interview with the Pelican Press. “Now we know.”

Staff from Sarasota County Mobility Management personally informed residents around the closed stretch of Beach Road that the holes and cracks in the street would be filled once the Florida Department of Environmental Protection approves a permit for the work, said Sarasota County Traffic and Mobility staff member Gary Spraggins in an email. (See below.)

But, a long-term fix for the erosion damage, which was amplified by the recent tropical storm, is expected to cost about $1 million, according to an email from Public Works Director Jim Harriott. That doesn’t include the cost of an engineering study on the area, which would need to be completed before it can be considered as a capital improvement project.

Spraggins also said there is a plan to turn over county-owned land south of three properties on the north end of Beach Road to the residents. That would need to be approved by Sarasota County commissioners, who are currently on recess with budget approval coming in September, said Sarasota County Manager of Business Operations Tom Maroney.

It’s a frustrating case of déjà vu for nearby residents, who experienced a similar situation in 2005, Furlong said. After the eventful hurricane season, when Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Francis ripped through Florida, the little chunk of road was approved for $300,000 of disaster relief funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but the project was never started due to the residual cost and the grant dried up.

“Use it or lose it,” Furlong said.

That funding option could be available because Sarasota County declared a local state of emergency the week after Tropical Storm Debby passed through the region. But, with the stormwater runoff project still delayed, it’s unknown when the county would be able to allocate sufficient staff to repair the road, regardless of how fast funding can be appropriated.

“I’m just glad people understand there’s a legitimate and immediate need for it,” Furlong said.

Temporary repair
1. Broken asphalt is removed.
2. Plywood structures are placed in voids.
3. Voids are filled with 3,000-pounds-per-square-inch concrete.
4. Vibrate the concrete until voids are filled.
5. Trowel and broom surface.
6. Cover with Visqueen, and barricade until strength is achieved.