Traffic shifts planned for Bradenton Beach sewer line project

As the busy season comes to an end, so do many of the traffic headaches that have plagued Longboat Key residents looking to travel to and from the barrier island.

But traffic troubles may not be completely a thing of the past with traffic shifts planned to accommodate the ongoing Bradenton Beach sewer line replacement project. 

Beginning May 30, the contractor will be installing a new gravity sewer pipe along Gulf Drive South to the east at 11th Street South. 

“In order to accommodate the pipe installation, traffic lane shifts will be implemented for the northbound and southbound travel lanes of Gulf Drive South through late June,” the project update said. 

Two lanes of traffic will still be operating, but the western most lane will be shifted off the existing roadway and into the sandy area currently used for beach parking. 

Through the end of this summer, 11th Street South will be closed to traffic for crews to install the new gravity sewer pipeline in that section of the project. A new parking area will be provided, but only for use by residents and tenants on the impacted street. 

In February, the Manatee County Public Works Department began work on replacing and relocating a portion of the gravity sewer collection system for the city on Anna Maria Island. 

The full project includes installation of about one mile of new sewer main along Gulf Drive. Twenty-one maintenance holes will be installed along with 100 new 6-inch service laterals, which serve as connections between a private property and the sewer main in the right of way. 

The new pipeline will extend from the current pipe on Gulf Drive down each side street from Sixth Street to 13th Street. 

Road repairs are included in the county’s plans. 

Installation of the main sewer line is complete on the west side of Gulf Drive South from 6th Street South to 12th Street South. The contractor is currently installing the remaining concrete structures on the west side of Gulf Drive South near 13th Street South. Restoration between 10th Street South and 13th Street South is also underway with completion anticipated by the end of the month. 

The beach parking areas currently being used as construction staging and storage will continue as such and remain closed to public parking. 

The project is expected to be complete in late 2024. 

On the city’s website, a list of frequently asked questions addressed long-term benefits of the project including 

• Protects public and environmental health by preventing sanitary system overflows caused by aging sewer pipes.
• Extends the service life of existing roads by preventing gravity main leaks that cause pavement damage.
• Improves pumping capacity and avoids costly replacement of the existing lift station by eliminating storm and ground water infiltration. 
• Alleviates potential sanitary sewer backups by removing multi-property connections and providing each property with its own connection to the gravity main. 
• Reduces odor in the community during the maintenance of the sanitary sewer collection system.