Storm Debris Clean Up Continues

Irma storm debris piled along Westway Drive

It's been nearly three-weeks since Irma roared through Sarasota.  Debris clean-up is going full tilt, seven days a week, and is moving slowly through the city from south to north.  So expect our numerous piles of downed limbs to remain on our Lido Shores streets for awhile.  

Below are some pictures sent in by Jon Bocia On Westway Drive of repairs to his dock.  At one point during the storm, two wind blown jet skis rammed the dock before floating away.

Jet skis that lodged against Jon Boscia's dock

Repairing the dock damage

I've also included another update from Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin on the city's cleanup effort to date, as well as information on two roundabouts on US-41 that are starting this fall that will significantly impact our traffic woes.

~BT
bthill@icloud.com

This Week's Items to Know:

1.

Storm Debris - By the Numbers  The City's emergency contract for residential storm debris pick up remains in place and crews are making their way from the north end of the city limits to the south.   The contractor, Ceres Environmental, and the Public Works Department estimate 50,000 cubic yards of storm debris will be picked up as a result of Hurricane Irma.   How much is 50,000 cubic yards?  We crunched the numbers and it's nearly equal to the amount of residential yard waste our crews would collect over two years!      That's a tremendous amount of limbs, tree stumps, leaves etc. and it will take time for crews to go through the neighborhoods and collect it all.      Residents' patience and understanding of this massive, statewide cleanup challenge is appreciated.

2.

Storm Debris - How You Can Help   Please do not place household garbage or bulk waste on storm debris piles.  Collection crews cannot separate garbage and bulk waste from storm debris.  If it's mixed together, the process will be slowed and the storm debris may not be picked up during the first collection cycle.    Over the past week, since starting the collection process, almost 25% of the total debris out there has been picked up. We expect it will take 2-3 passes throughout the neighborhoods to pick it all up.  Contract teams are working from sun up to sun down, 7 days a week, plus our Public Works crews are providing additional collection support.  We caught up with a crew working in the Gillespie Park Neighborhood in the 90+ degree heat, which you can see in this video:   Please make sure storm debris is far enough away from your mailbox and other fixtures to allow large machinery to maneuver.  Also, to avoid possible traffic hazards, keep debris out of the street and place it curbside.     The Storm Debris Removal Hotline will be available for as long as necessary to answer residents' questions:  855-428-4526.

3.

U.S. 41 Roundabouts - FDOT Meeting Oct. 3   Construction for the two long-planned roundabouts on U.S. 41 at 10th Street and 14th Street is expected to begin in October or possibly November.    With U.S. 41 a State maintained road, the construction project is being overseen by the Florida Department of Transportation.      FDOT officials will be in Sarasota next Tues., October 3 to present information about the two roundabouts, designs, and overall scope of the project.   The meeting will be held at the Bayfront Community Center, 803 N. Tamiami Trail from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Oct. 3rd. To see an informational flyer click here.    The signalized intersections at 10th and 14th will be removed and replaced with roundabouts, which is consistent with the City's future planning for mobility, connectivity, pedestrian safety and sustainability.  In addition, the City is enhancing the basic project constructed by the State to include raised pedestrian islands, pedestrian signals, landscaping, street lighting, sidewalk, extension of the Multi-Use Recreational Trail, and improved drainage.     The two roundabouts are scheduled to be constructed simultaneously and completed in 2020.       To prepare for the construction, the Van Wezel's electronic message board at U.S. 41 & 10th St. was removed this week.  It will return next week temporarily placed on a trailer, which will allow the Van Wezel to continue to have a visual presence from U.S. 41 during the construction.     City staff has been meeting with FDOT representatives regarding the impact of the construction on drivers, especially those visiting the Van Wezel.  We have expressed the need for wayfinding to guide motorists through the construction zones to all points between 10th and 14th Street. As with all road construction projects, we anticipate much patience will be required.      We encourage anyone interested in learning more to attend the FDOT meeting next week.