Florida Construction News staff writer
The roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place in Sarasota is expected to be complete in Spring 2025.
Previously expected to open this month, the roundabout construction project at Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place has faced delays due to supply chain issues, storm recovery, and evacuations from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton.
Roundabouts like the one being installed at Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place offer several important advantages over traditional signalized intersections. In addition to improving traffic flow and pedestrian safety, the Federal Highway Administration notes that roundabouts reduce vehicle crash fatalities by more than 90% and injuries by 76%.
Construction on the roundabout at Ringling Boulevard and Pine Place began April 29, 2024. The finished project will mark the completion of a string of roundabouts along Ringling Boulevard: Palm Avenue, Pineapple Avenue, Orange Avenue, and Pine Place.
The $282,750 engineering and design work was completed by Kimley Horn & Associates, Inc. and Ajax Paving Industries of Florida was the contractor for the $3.7 million construction project.
Work included:
- Removal of span wire
- Landscaped center island of the roundabout and the four adjacent corners.
- Irrigation
- Drainage and utility adjustments.
- New and replacement light poles within project limits.
- Paver brick crosswalks at the four legs of the roundabout, truck apron, and island approaches.
- In-road warning lights controlled by automatic activation bollards at the crosswalks.
- New Sarasota County Area Transit bus stop & transit shelter. Design to allow staging of two busses outside of the travel lane.
- Milling & Resurfacing
- Striping and markings to match the bicycle and pedestrian enhancements to the Ringling Trail