Roundabouts for Gulf of Mexico Drive on Longboat Key?

On Monday, the Longboat Key Town Commission will discuss “potential enhancements” to Gulf of Mexico Drive.

At the group’s workshop meeting, town staff will give a presentation, including a simulation, that demonstrates these changes, including:

• Two roundabouts at the north and south ends of the Key: one at Longboat Club Road, one at Broadway Street
• Landscaped medians
• Multi-use paths on both sides of GMD, equipped with low pathway lighting
• Separating bicycle lanes from traffic lanes with enhanced visual separation
• Improved bus shelters

With these changes, the town hopes to improve safety and convenience for the Key’s motorists, pedestrians and cyclists while enhancing the aesthetic aspects of GMD.

The town is working to develop a dedicated turn lane on GMD for the Country Club Shores neighborhood, and any of these additional proposed changes to the roadway can be integrated into that project, according to town staff.

The discussion comes as the town prepares a project to bury power lines and hide from sight other utility equipment along GMD. Construction on the $50 million project is expected to begin next year.

Other topics on the Town Commission’s workshop agenda include:

• A Florida Department of Transportation presentation about a proposed roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Gulfstream
• Discussion of the the Canal Dredging Feasibility Study, including the possibility of dredging the east side waterway of Greer Island and using that sand to prevent a breach on the west side of Greer
• Discussion regarding Town Commission meeting start times

The full agenda for the meeting can be found here.